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Kali is the goddess of time, paradoxes, and destruction in the Hinduism pantheon. For me, she is my maternal goddess. This means that I feel my strongest connection with her. I was first exposed to her as a young child, via the Indiana Jones Temple of Doom movie (this movie today for me is a huge guilty pleasure). Ever since she stuck around quietly in the back of my mind. I didn’t become a devotee of hers until I was around 18 or 19 years old.
The paradoxical nature of Kali — she destroys in order for something better to take its place is something that has brought me great comfort over the years. It has helped me make sense of the many wonders of this world.
Kali, upon first impressions, can certainly be terrifying to a person who has never heard or read much about her. She is often depicted with sharp teeth, blood, a weapon in hand, and a menacing-looking tongue and aggressive body posture. However, she is known as a caring mother to her devotees. In my personal history, men seem to be much more terrified of her than women. Kali will not allow her devotees (who she considers her own children) to be wronged or hurt by someone.
Many poems and hymnals about Kali ask her about what they often perceive as “tough love” from her. I can relate, having been through quite a bit in my young life. Many poems also about her discuss how devotees are not afraid of dying because…
