Who is Kali?

Meditationtime Forum Post

Date:  Posted 3 years before Oct 02, 2016

MiBeloved 3 years ago

Today at a discussion, Tobe Terrell asked about the Kali person in the Vedic literature. I was able to clarify the following:

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The ghastly female deity Kali (pronounced Kaa-lee) is an expansion or a parallel supernatural woman of the female deity known as Durga, who is the wife of Shiva.

Durga is known by other names, such as Uma (Oo-maa), Devi (day-vee) and Parvati (paar-vuh-tee).

The word Durga is translated literally to mean a military stockade or fort. Durga is said to be a very difficult person to deal with. Uma was a name which she got from her mother when she performed austerities to get Shiva as her husband. Uma was said to her by her mother. It means, “Do not do this. Stop this austerity.”

Devi means goddess. She is regarded through the Vedic literature by every sect as the Goddess from whom the material world was adopted and that her energy pervades the world.

There are several instances of how Kali was produced from Durga but essentially Kali is a parallel supernatural personality of the same Durga. Kali has a dark complexion and is usually depicted with a near nude body, with skulls forming a garland:

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The person in the Puranas listed as Kali (pronounced kul-lee) is a negative supernatural being which is similar to the devil in Christianity, this person is said to rule our era. Thus this is called the Kali era. This person is male and influences human society through vices like animal slaughter, irresponsible sexual intercourse, gambling and intoxication. But apparently he was given permission by King Parikshit to stay wherever there is money.

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The other similar name from the Puranas is Kalki (kul-kee) who is a male being, an incarnation of Vishnu (Krishna). He will come at the end of the Kali era (time of the influence of the devil Kali). He will then kill all human beings who are degraded and begin human civilization afresh with a handful of righteous persons.

This image below is incorrect because it shows the Goddess Kali (Kaa-lee) as if she is the negative supernatural being whose negative influence prevails at this time. The Woman Goddess Kali is not a negative being. Her ghastly attitude is for disciplining militaristic men and criminal elements.

This is not her era, as that illustration suggests.

chris_hall1951 3 years ago

Thanks for the info Michael, clearing up some misconceptions.