By Sharika Sharma
The 21st Century has generated an unprecedented measure of leisure, freedom, and entertainment for mankind through technological inventions, such as the mobile phone, internet-connectivity, i-pads, i-pods, drones, live streaming and virtual reality. These inventions have made the world smaller and life easier and more fun, yet we are witnessing a wide-scale decline in tolerance on our planet, inter personally and between groups with not only opposing but also similar ideologies. With greater exposure, communication, and knowledge one naturally expects people to come closer. The opposite, however, appears to be happening. As a result, concepts of “faith” and “belief” are taking a bruising. As if they are the root cause. When, in fact, if correctly practiced, they are the solution.
If you put your faith into something- a tree, a person, a rock, a symbol, an idea, or God- it will give you strength. A stone may not be living, nor is an idea; though an idea may be brought to life by the power of ones will and concerted effort. But what is living, is the belief inside you. It has the strength to turn ideas into action, to make a symbol take on significance, and, possibly, “move mountains.”
As a woman, to me it makes most sense to put my faith into my own higher self: Kali, or Shakti, the personification of female strength. Kali is universal. She may be worshiped in the form of a tree or a rock. She may inspire her aspirants as an abstract idea. Kali belongs to everyone. Sri Ramakrishna, arguably the greatest devotee of the Goddess, preached, “As many faiths, so many paths.” Kali is time, and also the devourer of time. The ensuing formlessness is she, as is the dark interim between creation and destruction. Kali is sound: the sound that created this universe. This transcendental sound, that yogis can hear, contains all knowledge.
Kali’s drinking of blood is related to her form as Prakriti, or nature. Shedding of blood makes way for generation of new blood: the lioness kills the deer to feed her cubs. The depiction of Kali having sex with Shiva too is reminiscent of her as nature. Sex is a creative force: without sexual activity life cannot exist.
Her acceptance of all of humanity is evident in the fact that polluted substances and clothes worn by the recently deceased are offered to Kali. People suffering from addictions and mental illness, persons of lower castes, anyone living on the margins of society; are embraced by the Mother. She accepts whatever they have to give; for their minds at the moment of giving are free from negativity, in search of a truth higher than themselves. And that, in effect, is meditation. By accepting pollution as an offering, Kali disposes of it. What are the battles she wages with demons but the ridding of our existences from negative influences? The demons represent the wars going on within us. They are the wars between our higher and lower selves, our divine and demonic natures, primal instinct and self-control. The sword and trident are Kali’s weapons of choice to annihilate the wicked that have gone beyond the possibility of reformation: murderers, pedophiles, poachers, and rapists. She uses the noose to capture them. Hanging in her hand by its hair, dripping with blood, why does the head that is severed smile? It smiles because the sinner is happy to be free of his/her ego, the ego that causes jealousy, selfishness, greed, insincerity, lethargy and cruelty. Kali’s upraised hand is blessing you with love, and stopping evil from coming your way. The hand with the open palm, lower down, is bestowing prosperity upon you.
Most images from antiquity are of females and depicting fertility. So how did modern civilization come to be largely patriarchal? In the Neolithic world women were revered, and their ability to give birth, worshiped. Once agriculture became widespread and civilizations came into being, men began to demarcate territories; and subsequently fought over those territories. As a consequence, females were restricted to the home and their role as caretaker of children; becoming possessions of men, like cattle and land.
Now, in the 21st Century, women have come out of the home to contribute to the economy and general well being of the planet. We are biologically built to nurture; be it children, men, or our planet. So, though its true that recent innovations have done much to make the world a smaller place but less than could be expected to bring people closer, women- as wives, mothers and independent, free thinking beings- can, through their brand of sensitivity, spread a message of unconditional acceptance; humanity’s dire need. Through belief in ourselves and faith in a collective future, let us instill kindness and tolerance in our world. Let us be strong. Stand up, learn, and get heard. Teach justice and love. Awaken the Kali within you; and in so doing empower the world to make it livable for not only the able-bodied but also the disabled, not only the haves but also the have-nots, not only the strong but also the weak, not only the white but also the black, not only the male but also the female; for all of humanity.
Pic Courtesy: Google
About the Author
Writer Sharika Sharma dons many caps. She’s written on archaeological discoveries in the country for Education Times and the Asian Age newspaper, fiction for television, essays and poetry. She is presently completing her first novel, Oestrus, due to release at the end of the year.
Thank you and congratulations to Sharika Sharma and Fempowerment for putting this concept so beautifully and passing the most important information from idolism to interpretation of the true existence of life energy force Kali …
Would like to share a little :
If we all take a little time to understand life out of Myth and society pressure the existence itself will guide you towards the life force which we all have it in and around us !!! Then the battle of being supreme will end itself
And once this happens their will be no man and woman just support system exactly how our Universe is functioning ..
Bramha , Vishnu, Mahesh and thirty three crores gods and goddesses ( the energy system ) who are they ?? They are the energy system and with their functions and support they keep our universe stable and balanced . We part of the same life force needs to function in the same to keep it stable and balance
( SUPPORT SYSTEM)
A truly inspiring piece of thought for men and women, which compels reflection on today’s time. Loved the concept of nurturing, which is inherent in women and the idea that it can be dovetailed to the welfare of the planet. ?
Truly inspiring piece…unleashed the ”Kali’ in me. The writing also brings out the stark reality that man and woman are a complete whole…one cannot survive without the other. Together they are responsible for furthering the human race. While the concept of woman as nurturer, encompassing all alike into her fold is empowering, it also reinstates the fact that tolerance in today’s world is an imperative attribute to be nurtured from birth in our children. It is this tolerance that will sustain the earth and ensure mankind’s existence.
Truly inspiring piece…unleashed the ”Kali’ in me. The writing also brings out the stark reality that man and woman are a complete whole…one cannot survive without the other. Together they are responsible for furthering the human race. While the concept of woman as nurturer, encompassing all alike into her fold is empowering, it also reinstates the fact that tolerance in today’s world is an imperative attribute to be nurtured from birth in our children. It is this tolerance that will sustain the earth and ensure mankind’s existence.
Wow, it’s good to know what Kali signifies. I definitely want to awaken the Kali in me! She’s the real Super Woman. I’m going to show this piece to my teenage daughter, so she can be strong and proud like her. Why are we so ashamed of our bodies?! Look at Kali flaunting her femininity and sexuality.
This is an amazing and very well explained view on goddess Kali and the strength which is innate in each one of us! More so in today’s time and age where each one has become so materialistic and busy in emulating others that she forgets who she really is! A Creator, Nurturer, Destroyer!!!Fabulous and All d best for your novel. Looking forward.
The Kali in you is witnessed by me since childhood . And I am totally inspired by your thoughts . Best of luck . Keep writing and motivating and educating the world with the brilliant juices that flow from your mind and take form through that pen on the paper .
The Kali in you is witnessed by me since childhood . And I am totally inspired by your thoughts . Best of luck . Keep writing and motivating and educating the world with the brilliant juices that flow from your mind and take form through that pen on the paper .
Thank you Parul, Tina and Ani for your reflections and feedback. Bobby, Rahul and Vikram; great to see men inspired as much by Kali as women. Remember, her greatest devotee, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, was male. For Kali’s message is universal.
The Goddess is everyone’s mother equally.,
Very interesting Sharika, thanks for sharing all this information which clarifies a lot for those of us less familiar with the role of Kali
Hi dear I can tell really this writing abt kallilaamman maa.i s shows ur talent&ur divine power.al blessings to u.trust my blessings.lov aunty
Hi dear it s woeful. Really ur writing s so devine u too.al blessings for ur success.ever loving aunty
Beautifully expressed Maa Kali’s roop and very well compared to today’s woman … Awakening ??
Wonderfully expressed. Hope every woman learns from Kali on how to be strong when needed and how to be extremely giving when needed.
Wonderfully put together!
Kali the goddess of strength and fearlessness , this article is enlightening it has explained so beautifully by Sharika what all expressions of Kali means and why .. Perception can be so different than reality .
How beautifully has the mystery behind Kali expressed by Sharika! Her deep knowledge and passion in the world of Godess Kali is absolutely brilliant. Look forward to some more of this!
Beautifully written Sharika ! Truly captures the spirit of Kali -inspiration to us all to unleash the true Kali in us !!
Sharika..great blog..makes me wonder where and how we went so wrong that men began disregarding women and their importance.. To women empowerment ???
I want to tell you how much I appreciated your clearly written and thought-provoking article on Kali’s Significance In The 21st Century .
She is a goddess of transformation, source of power and inspiration.
Thank you and keep these good articles coming.
Dear Sharika Sharma
You pointed out several things that I will remember for years to come. I look forward to reading your next informative article. Thank you Sharika Sharma.
That is a very good tip especially to those fresh to
the blogosphere. Short but very precise info… Thanks for sharing this one.
A must read post!