Himalayan Art Resources

Hindu Deity: Kali Page

Hindu Tradition Main Page

Database Search: All Images

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Textual Sources: Devi Mahatmya, others
- Dasha Mahavidya
- Durga
- Chandika
- Shri Devi (Buddhist)
- Sipai Gyalmo (Bon)
- Masterworks
- Confusions: Shri Devi, Durga, Chandika, Bhairavi
- Others...

Video: The Mother Kali

Study Topics:
- Origins & Sources
- Iconographic Forms
- Conflations & Confusions

The great Black Mother, Kali, represents the potent destructive energy of the universe. As the personification of power, shakti, she is the energizing force that animates all of the male gods of the Hindu pantheon.

Kali is a fearsome wrathful Indian goddess related closely with Shiva. Some texts regard Kali as a wrathful energy of Shiva himself. In appearance Kali is related to Chandika and the female Buddhist protector deity Shri Devi. The very recent form of Shri Devi Drashi Lhamo, worshiped in Lhasa, Tibet, even has an almost identical appearance to Kali as she is commonly depicted and worshiped in the temples of Kolkata (Calcutta), India.

Jeff Watt 6-2017