K?l?

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KĀLĪ

One of the names of the Mother Goddess in Hinduism. She is the consort of Śiva, and is known in her auspicious aspect as Umā or Pārvatī, but in her terrible aspect

as Durgā or Kālī. She is represented as a four-armed woman with her tongue lolling out; she is garlanded with skulls and dancing on the body of her prostrate lord. Yet, this fearful goddess is worshiped all over India as the Great Mother, and especially in Bengal, she has inspired intense devotion. She was celebrated in exquisite poetry by Rāmprasād Sen in the 18th century; and Rāmakrishna, the "saint" of modern Hinduism, was her devotee, regarding her as the eternal manifestation of the Supreme Being. Her cult is distinguished by the sacrifice of goats; the Kālī Ghat in Calcutta is the center of these rites.

See Also: hinduism and its bibliography.

[b. griffiths]

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