The Goddess named Kali and Kamakhya (The Assertion of...)

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Devi bhakta wrote:

>In a different passage, the Mahabhagavata (at 77.4-11) offers the

>same configuration, but this time in relation to Kali (who is

>identified with Kamakhya. Interestingly, Kali is sitting upon a

>throne, which the text says is composed of the three great male

>deities of the Hindu pantheon: A corpse (Shiva) lying upon a Lotus

>(Brahma) which is resting upon a lion (Vishnu).

>Well. I hope that helps; Ifd be interested to hear your take on what

>it all may mean from your point of view. Can anyone else offer any

>further information or throw additional light on all of this?

 

Namaste!

 

The passage you've quoted accords perfectly with the way the Goddess is

named and described in the Kalika Purana (generally regarded as an earlier

work than the Mahabhagavata Purana).

 

I say "the Goddess" because the Kalika Purana declares that there is _one_

universal Goddess, whose names include Kali, Mahamaya and Kamakhya, and who

_also_ appears in diverse partial forms. There is a detailed _dhyana_ in

which she is supported by the trinity in the forms of corpse, lotus and

lion.

 

The Kalika Purana also mentions a masculine deity called the Purushottama

(from Purusha meaning "masculine spirit" and Uttama meaning "highest") who

shares the exalted position of the Goddess -- he is upstream of the "three

great male deities", who are diverse appearances of himself.

 

The Kalika Purana itself declares that the name Kamakhya is derived from

_kama_, which means _desire_. Kamakhya is literally 'She whose name is

desire'. Kama is also of course the name of the only Hindu god who has a

familiar western equivalent. He is the love-god with the bow and arrow,

whom the Greeks called Eros and the Romans called Cupid.

 

The Goddess of the Kalika Purana has a terrible side -- she receives blood

sacrifices, as I mentioned in an earlier posting. Yet she is also a Goddess

of passionate love.

 

If anyone wants chapter and verse references for what I've said, I will be

happy to provide them.

 

Om Shantih

Colin.