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Kali is
part of the Circle of Goddesses Candle Shrine. Circle
of Goddesses
Kali is a ferocious form of the Divine Mother, who sent her to free the gods
from the dominion of the demonic forces. Kali is the goddess of time and of the
transformation brought about by the death (Kala) of the ego and of the human
personality. Kali represents the spiritual transformation that eliminates the
attachments to mundane life and removes the avidya (ignorance) that makes us
fear death.
This fearsome Goddess purges us of fear, anger and jealousy. Invoking Kali is
a path to destroying evil - both in the outside world and within ourselves. The
legend goes that long ago the demons, disturbed the peace of Indra, the king of
gods, and his empire (heaven). After extensive and endless battles, the gods
lost all hope and the demons became stronger.
The gods took refuge in the Himalayas, the holy mountains, and sought protection
from Mahamaya Durga. Kali, born from Durga's forehead, was created to save
heaven and earth from the growing cruelty of the demons. Along with Dakini and
Jogini, her two escorts, she set on her way to end the war and kill the devils.
There was chaos all around. After slaughtering the demons, Kali made a garland
of their heads and wore it around her neck. In the bloodbath, she lost control
and started killing anyone who came her way. The gods started running for their
lives. The only source of protection seemed Lord Shiva, Durga's consort.
Seeing the endless slaughter, Shiva devised a plan to save the world. He lay
down in the path of the rampaging Kali. When the Goddess unknowingly stepped on
him, she regained her senses. The well-known picture of Ma Kali, with her tongue
hanging out, actually depicts the moment when she steps on the Lord and repents.
That momentous day has been celebrated ever since.
Kali, also called Shyama Kali, is the first of the 10 avatars (incarnations) of
Durga. Kali Puja is performed essentially to seek protection against drought and
war, for general happiness, health, wealth, and peace. It is a tantrik puja and
performed only at midnight on Amavasya (new moon night) in November.
VAJRAYOGINI: Vajrajogini is in a class of deities called dakinis.
Dakinis are the female consorts of the herukas, wrathful and semi-wrathful male
deities. They can also be considered the feminine aspect of one's innate nature.
Dakinis can be human, or non-human and are able to travel through air.
Vajrajogini manifested herself to the great Pandit Mahasiddha Naropa (956-1040
A.D.). She has supernatural wisdom and power and can assist the Vajrayana
practitioner in eliminating obstacles to practice. She can even confer the
siddhi (power) of liberation and omniscience.
Vajrajogini holds a kartri (kartika) in her right hand. As a ritual artifact it
symbolizes disintegration of all matter and the cutting of worldly bonds. In
Tibet, this is the knife used to cut up corpses to feed to the vultures in
"sky burials". In her left hand she holds a skull cup. She wears a
garland of severed heads and rides upon corpses. Vajrajogini is surrounded on
all sides by the burning grounds. She is nude, though covered with many
ornaments.
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