The story of Kali's birth

The story of Kali's birth: The Fury of the Divine Mother

At a time when darkness threatened to consume the cosmos, the buffalo demon Mahishasura unleashed terror upon the gods. Empowered by a blessing that no man or god could kill him, he drove the gods from the heavens and threw the universe into chaos. In desperation, the gods combined their divine energies into a blinding light, giving birth to Goddess Durga, the warrior form of Shakti. Riding a lion and wielding heavenly weapons, Durga battled Mahishasura for nine days, finally killing him on the tenth - a victory celebrated as Vijayadashami.

But peace was short-lived. A new threat emerged: Raktabija, a demon whose blood spawned clones of himself with every drop spilled. Durga fought bravely, but as Raktabija bled, his army multiplied endlessly. Realising that conventional weapons were useless, Durga's forehead furrowed in anger. Kali, a primal force of destruction, erupted from her third eye.

Kali's appearance was terrifying:

• Deep black skin - Absorbs all light and evil.
• Fierce eyes - Burning with cosmic rage.
• A necklace of skulls - Each representing a shattered ego.
• A coat of severed arms - Symbolizing the end of earthly attachments.
• A bloody tongue - Laps up demonic blood to prevent new clones.

With a guttural roar, Kali charged into battle. She speared Raktabija, lifting him into the sky and drinking every drop of his blood before it could touch the ground. Her fury grew uncontrollable - devouring demons, dancing on corpses, threatening to destroy creation itself.

The gods panicked. Only Shiva, her consort, could calm her. He lay motionless in her path. When Kali stepped on Shiva, she froze in shock and bit her tongue in remorse. Her anger subsided and she was transformed back into the benevolent Parvati, Shiva's gentle wife.

This myth, from the Devi Mahatmya, explains Kali's dual nature:

• Destroyer of Evil - She destroys ignorance and corruption.
• Mother of Liberation - Her fierceness guides souls beyond fear.
• Symbol of Time - Her dark form represents the endless cycle of eternity.

Today, Kali is worshipped as ultimate reality (Brahman) in Bengal and beyond. Her iconic image - tongue outstretched, standing on top of Shiva - reminds devotees that even divine wrath serves a higher purpose: to destroy illusion and reborn the soul. Festivals such as Kali Puja honour her as the protector who dances on darkness to reveal the light of truth.