Kali: Weapons & Symbols

काली

Goddess of time, death, the destruction of evil and final liberation; the fierce Mother. Also called Mahakali, Shyama, Kalika, Chamunda, Bhadrakali, Dakshina Kali, Adya.

Kali is the fierce dark goddess of time, death and liberation, a form of the great Goddess and the first of the ten Mahavidyas of Tantra. Born from Durga's wrath to slay the demon Raktabija, she is depicted blue-black, garlanded with severed heads and dancing on Shiva. Though terrifying, she is adored as the tender Mother, worshipped at Kali Puja and at Kalighat and Dakshineswar.

Updated 27 Oct 20266 sources

RoleGoddess of time, death, the destruction of evil and final liberation; the fierce Mother

TraditionShaktism

ConsortShiva

MantraOm Krim Kalikayai Namah

PositionFirst of the ten Mahavidyas

FestivalKali Puja (Kartik Amavasya)

Iconography and symbolism

Kali is shown deep blue-black, with wild hair and three eyes, clad in a skirt of severed arms and a garland of fifty severed heads (the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet). In her four-armed form she holds a sword and a severed head in her left hands and makes the gestures of fearlessness and boons with her right. Her red tongue lolls out and she stands with one foot on the prone body of Shiva, the still consciousness upon which her active power dances.

मुंडमालाGarland of severed headsGarlandThe fifty heads are the fifty letters of Sanskrit, the sounds from which all creation is made.

जिह्वाLolling tongueExpressionHer shock at treading on Shiva, and the thirst that swallows all things back into her.

खड्गSword and severed headWeaponThe cutting away of the ego and the death of the false self.

कटिमेखलाSkirt of severed armsGarmentAction and karma, worn away in her presence.

Meanings are given as tradition holds them, not as scripture.