Description
Kali (also known as Kalika) is a major Hindu goddess in the Skaktism of the realms of time, creation, destruction, transformation, liberation, power, change and death. In the Hindu tantric tradition she is the first of ten Hindu goddesses known as Mahavidyas. Her first recorded appearance was when she emerged from the Durga the mother goddess. Kali is known for tough love and is a primal force of nature endlessly dancing us that the truth cannot be obtained by material things, but by letting things come to oneself without being grubby of clingy.
While not considered a vampire in Hindu mythology she does embody the dark divine feminine and many aspects aligning her with the concept of a vampire. Depicted most often depicted in a fierce and protective manner with wild hair, dark black or blue skin and her tongue sticking out symbolizes her role in destroying ignorance. Although she is distinct from creatures like vampires in western folklore and mythology, both culturally and religiously she appeals to the death and dark aspects of life as the vampire mythos.
Kali magically represents the power to release in what you is true often hidden remaining in what Karl Jung calls the shadow.. This truth is not the ultimate truth but which is uniquely yours and is power that remains behind socially constructed masks. For prayers and chanting there is the "Kali Gayatri Mantra,” and ritual worship known as puja includes lighting lamps (diya), making offerings to a kali shrine and performing Aarti a ceremonial worship involving light. All this is done especially in her most significant festival celebrated all over India dedicated to kali called Kali Puja.
