KALI - Dasa Mahavidya series

Kali is the first Mahavidya. In Sanskrit, 'Kali' means the one who devours time.
Devi creates the universe when desired. On doomsday, she performs Tandava, the cosmic dance of dissolution & devours the entire creation. In hymns, she's described as Smashanavasini (one whose abode is crematorium), Kapalini (bearer of skull cup), Muktakeshi (one with unbound hair) etc. Kali's iconography is full of symbolisms. Her complexion depicts her nature to absorb everything as black is the colour that devours all colours. Earrings of infant corpses adorn her ears which shows she attentively hears the pleas of her children. She wears Mundamala of 51 heads which actually are the 51 alphabets of Sanskrit. She holds a scimitar, severed head in her left two hands & other hands are in Abhaya & Varada mudra. Her consort is Lord Shiva.

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