Kali Maa

Of the many gods who have survived the ages to reappear (or reveal

themselves) unto human beings, there are few with as much relevance

and depth for today's world as Kali-Ma.

She is both fearsome and benign, as are many Eastern deities of

popularity and power. She appeals to the yogi and to the saint, in

that She may be both horrid and compassionate, providing both a focus

of meditation and a model for those of the Hindu Way who seek

liberation (sometimes called 'moksha').

Kali-Ma is, to me, Mother Earth. She is a realistic, personal

glimpse of natural power in humanoid form. While many favor one of

Her aspects over the other (most notably and understandably the

benign), those who cherish balance and broad-mindedness see and love

Her in all Her manifested forms.

The stories of Her origins are often somewhat climactic. In one very

popular story She is said to have been 'born' in a battle between the

gods and the 'asuras', or titans. I would not call these forces

'evil' in the same way that some fundamentalist Christians might.

The titans of Hindu mythos are necessary elements of the universal

play ('lila') that the Cosmos - the myriad manifestation of Brahman

(tao) makes possible.

Though Kali is associated with divinity, She has also been called

'Queen of the Demons' (and deservedly so). Her role could be compared

to that of Persephone/Proserpine of the Greeks, who descends into the

Underworld