Reading Notes: Kali's Secret Part C

- Kali is often portrayed with vulgar imagery
- Kali's tongue was a weapon than it was a symbol for a wisdom and finally turned in to a symbol of shame.
- Women's clay statue represented tamed nature
- Nirriti was seen as a goddess of death and despair. Considered to be a predecessor of Kali
- Dirgha Jihvi was killed by Sumitra that was sent by Indra. Dirgha Jihvi is also considered to be proto Kali because of the use of the vulgar tongue.
- The Devi Mahatmya is the most famous story relating to Kali's tongue
- In nature, violence is the nourishment
- Shiva competes with Kali in a dance competition. Shiva tames Kali since women was controlled by men
- Shiva and Shakti makes love and in one version she covers her head with lotus flower.
- The version that Shakti is not shy, she sticks her tongue out, which shows that the nature is soverign
- She became forbidden force after relating with Tantra
- Ravana tries to offer sacrifice to Kali
- Westerners saw Kali as a offensive goddess
- Once western countries colonized India, Kali's imagery changed
- Kali was viewed as the goddess of love and nurture

Image of Kali