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Kali Maa story Who is Mother Kali (Devi Kali) and what does the name Kali mean? Three different forms of Goddess Kali Dakshina Kali, Mahakali and Smashan Kali.

Devi Kali, also known as Kali Mata or Shakti or Kalika is one of the most respected Hindu goddess. Kali is worshiped as one of the 10 Mahavidya forms of Adi Parashakti. Devi Kali is associated with empowerment and hence is often known as shakti.

Kali Mata is the fiercest form of the Devi Durga (Maa Durga). The name "Kali means black, time or death. She is therefore called the Goddess of time, power, destruction and death. She is widely revered as a destroyer of evil forces. Despite of her fierce form, Kali Maa is often considered the kindest and most loving of all the Hindu goddesses. Devi Kali is regarded by her devotees as the "Mother and "Supreme goddess of the whole Universe.

Devi Kali is strongly associated with Lord Shiva. It is often said that Lord Shiva derived his masculine power from her feminine power, Devi Kali. As per Shabdakalpadrum, nineteenth-century Sanskrit dictionary, Kali is derived from the shloka "Kalah Shivah Tasya Patniti Kali, meaning "Shiva is Kala and his consort is Kali.

Three Forms of Kali

Kali is portrayed in three popular forms: the four-armed Dakshina Kali, the ten-armed Mahakali and Smashan Kali. In all of her forms, Devi Kali is described as of black or blue skin colour. Her eyes are dark red (as blood) and her hair is shown disheveled. The most notable aspect of Devi Kali's form is her tongue and her naked body (wearing a skirt made of human arms and a garland of human heads). Her blood dripped tongue protrudes out of her mouth. Devi Kali is shown naked or just wearing a skirt made of human arms and a garland of human heads. In few of her pictures, small fangs protrude out of her mouth. She stands on a seemingly dead Lord Shiva with her right foot forward on Lord Shiva's chest. It symbolizes the more popular Dakshinamarga or right-handed path for Devotees.

• In Hindu belief, the term Dakshinachara means right-hand path. It defines religious sense (in accordance to the Tantric sects) that do not engage in any practices against the religion and the righteous path definition. The definition is described in a Tantric Hindu text, "Brahma Yamala. It says there are three forms of tradition Dakshina (Satva), Vama (Rajas), and Madhyama (Tamas). Dakshina is characterized by Satva and is pure and pristine. Whereas, Madhyama is mixed and Vama is impure.

Four-Armed Kali Mata (Dakshina Kali)

The four-armed Devi Kali or Dakshinakali is the most common form of Kali Mata. Daksinakali is the most popular form of Kali. Legends say that Devi Kali drunk on the blood of her victims and went outrageous to destroy the whole universe. Seeing this, Lord Shiva was urged by all the gods to appease her and save the universe. Lord Shiva immediately sleeps in her way (Devi Kali) to stop her. When Devi Kali steps upon Lord Shiva's chest. Recognizing Shiva beneath her feet, Devi Kali calms herself. It is also said that Devi Kali was ashamed of keeping her husband beneath her feet (Lord Shiva is her husband) and thus her tongue stuck out in shame. The four arms of Devi Kali carries a sword, a trishul (trident), a severed head, and a bowl (skull-cup or kapala). The bowl is used to collect the blood of the severed head. Two of her hands (right) are in the abhaya (fearlessness) and varada (blessing) mudra. These two hands means that anyone worshipping her with a true heart will be saved and guided hereafter.

Ten-Armed Kali Mata (Mahakali)

In the another form, Devi Kali is represented as the ten-armed form. This ten armed form is known as Mahakali, the bigger aspect of Kali. She is depicted with a blue skin in her Mahakali form. Mahakali has ten faces, ten feet, and three eyes for each head.

Smashan Kali

Smashan Kali is the most dangerous and powerful form of Devi Kali. Smashan Kali is the chief goddess of Tantric texts. It is said that if Devi Kali steps out with the left foot and holds the sword in her right hand, she is in the form of Smashan Kali. She is the Kali of the cremation ground and is worshiped by tantrics.

One more form of Devi Kali is known to exist, the Maternal Kali. This form is the most pleasing and calm form of Kali and is not associated with war or destruction. It is said that at the time of samundra manthan when amrit (nectar) came out along with poison, Lord Shiva drank the poison to save the world from being destroyed. But, Lord Shiva was very much in pain due to the poison. At this momemt, Lord Shiva became a child and Devi Kali feed him with her milk which soothed out the effect of poison.

Source - Indian astrology.co.in