Guest guest Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 {Moderator's Note: Message edited by Moderator} Please give reference to url of article when ever an article is quoted from web. -------------------- Dear prasad, I apologize for not responding to your request in a prompt fashion. My tantrik gurudeva was a Kali bhakta from the shri Ramakrishna lineage. Here are some facts i collecyted on 'kali' FROM AN ARTICLE ON THE WEB... Kali-the mother goddess "according to the Devimahatmya, Kali sprang forth from the furrowed brow of the goddess Durga in order to slay the demons Chanda and Munda. Here, Kali's horrific form has black, loosely hanging, emaciated flesh that barely conceals her angular bones. Gleaming white fangs protrude from her gaping, blood-stained mouth, framing her lolling red tongue. Sunken, reddened eyes peer out from her black face. She is clad in a tiger's skin and carries a khatvanga, a skull-topped staff traditionally associated with tribal shamans and magicians. The khatvanga is a clear reminder of Kali's origin among fierce, aboriginal peoples. In the ensuing battle, much attention is placed on her gaping mouth and gnashing teeth, which devour the demon hordes. At one point Munda hurls thousands of discusses at her, but they enter her mouth "as so many solar orbs vanishing into the denseness of a cloud" . WIth its cosmic allusion, this passage reveals Kali as the abstraction of primal energy and suggests the underlying connection between the black goddess and Kala ('time'), an epithet of Shiva. Kali is the inherent power of ever-turning time, the relentless devourer that brings all created things to an end. Even the gods are said to have their origin and dissolution in her." "the Devimahatmya paints an even more gruesome portrait. Having slain Chanda and Munda, Kali is now called Chamunda, and she faces an infinitely more powerful adversary in the demon named Raktabija. Whenever a drop of his blood falls to earth, an identical demon springs up. When utter terror seizes the gods, Durga merely laughs and instructs Kali to drink in the drops of blood. While Durga assaults Raktabija so that his blood runs copiously, Kali avidly laps it up. The demons who spring into being from the flow perish between her gnashing teeth until Raktabija topples drained and lifeless to the ground." Although the Puranas and earlier Sanskrit texts characterize Kali as a hideous, frightening crone who deals death and destruction, her victims symbolize the forces of ignorance and evil, making her in fact a force for good. {}"the present-day idea of the goddess as dakshinakali has a terrifying appearance, but the cronelike emaciation of the Puranas has given way to voluptuous beauty. " Kali has a fierce but smiling face. Her red tongue, protruding from her gaping mouth is taken either as a sign of modesty or of her thirst for blood. (Even today goats are sacrificed in most Kali temples, perpetuating ancient ritual practices.) Her untamed hair hints at unrestrained power and boundless freedom. Alternatively, it may symbolize the mystery of death that encircles life or the veil of illusion, made of the fabric of space-time . Her three eyes represent omniscience, for she sees past, present and future. The garland of severed heads around her neck represents the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, a Tantric metaphor for creative power. Encircling her waist, a girdle of severed arms indicates that she severs the bonds of karma and frees us from the bondage of accumulated deeds. Her full breasts symbolize nurturance. Her nakedness signifies freedom from the veils of illusion, and her dark skin alludes to the infinitude of the blue-black night sky. Kali's paradoxical combination of maternal tenderness and destructive terror appears polarized on right and left. Her lower right hand is held in the varada mudra, extended to offer a boon. One of her greatest boons is fearlessness, indicated by her upper right hand, held in the abhaya mudra, upright with the palm outward. Her upper left hand brandishes a bloodied curving sword, and her lower left hand dangles a freshly severed head. Behind these apparent symbols of destruction lies a different story. The sword symbolizes the higher knowledge that cuts through appearances and reveals things as they really are. The severed head represents the human ego, the limiting sense of I-me-and-mine that she slays. Together Kali's four hands seem to say, "Take refuge in me, let go of your existential fear, let me slay your illusion of smallness and separation, and you will merge into my infinite bliss." Kali haunts the cremation ground, and she is often pictured standing on the chest of the ashen white Shiva, who lies still as a corpse. {}According to Shakta and Tantric cosmology, it is the feminine power that creates, sustains and dissolves the universe while the masculine principle is the static substratum. {} That monistic principle found eloquent _expression in the poetry of Ramprasad, the greatest of Kali's mystical poets, who lived in the 18th century. After a lifetime of extolling his beloved goddess in human terms as gentle, elusive, playful, or mad, and in cosmic imagery as the all-pervading creative and destructive power, on his final day Ramprasad wrote that at last he understood the supreme mystery that Kali is one with the highest Brahman. Enlightenment brought him to the ultimate consciousness beyond all duality. Because of the Bengali devotional poets of the 18th century, Kali's human and maternal qualities continue to define the goddess for most of her Indian devotees to this day. In human relationships, the love between mother and child is usually considered the purest and strongest. In the same way, the love between the Mother Goddess and her human children is considered the closest and tenderest relationship with divinity. Accordingly, Kali's Indian devotees form a particularly intimate and loving bond with her. " JAI MAHAKALI ! JAI GURUDEVA! ********************************************************************* PRASAD, I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DIRECT YOU TO OTHER WEBSITES AND LINKS ON KALI. I CAN ALSO RECOMMEND BOOKS ON MOTHER KALI. PLEASE EMAIL ME, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 All, I went through those parts of Devi Mahathmyam explaining Kali Devi. I've a Question after going through the parts. What is the significance of the Daemon rakthabija in our life ? Some one kindly explain. Regards Prasad On Thu, 30 Jan 2003 15:28:09 adi_shakthi16 <adi_shakthi16 wrote: >{Moderator's Note: Message edited by Moderator} >Please give reference to url of article when ever an article is quoted from web. >-------------------- > >Dear prasad, > >I apologize for not responding to your request in a prompt fashion. > >My tantrik gurudeva was a Kali bhakta from the shri Ramakrishna >lineage. > >Here are some facts i collecyted on 'kali' FROM AN ARTICLE ON THE >WEB... > > > >Kali-the mother goddess > >"according to the Devimahatmya, Kali sprang forth >from the furrowed brow of the goddess Durga in order >to slay the demons Chanda and Munda. > >Here, Kali's horrific form has black, loosely hanging, emaciated flesh >that barely conceals her angular bones. Gleaming white fangs protrude >from her gaping, blood-stained mouth, framing her lolling red tongue. >Sunken, reddened eyes peer out from her black face. > >She is clad in a tiger's skin and carries a khatvanga, a skull-topped >staff traditionally associated with tribal shamans and magicians. The >khatvanga is a clear reminder of Kali's origin among fierce, >aboriginal peoples. In the ensuing battle, much attention is placed >on her gaping mouth and gnashing teeth, which devour the demon >hordes. At one point Munda hurls thousands of discusses at her, but >they enter her mouth "as so many solar orbs vanishing into the >denseness of a cloud" . > >WIth its cosmic allusion, this passage reveals Kali as the >abstraction of primal energy and suggests the underlying connection >between the black goddess and Kala ('time'), an epithet of Shiva. > >Kali is the inherent power of ever-turning time, the relentless >devourer that brings all created things to an end. Even >the gods are said to have their origin and dissolution in her." > >"the Devimahatmya paints an even more gruesome portrait. Having slain >Chanda and Munda, Kali is now called Chamunda, and she faces an >infinitely more powerful adversary in the demon named Raktabija. > >Whenever a drop of his blood falls to earth, an >identical demon springs up. When utter terror seizes the >gods, Durga merely laughs and instructs Kali to drink >in the drops of blood. While Durga assaults >Raktabija so that his blood runs copiously, Kali avidly >laps it up. The demons who spring into being from the >flow perish between her gnashing teeth until Raktabija >topples drained and lifeless to the ground." > >Although the Puranas and earlier Sanskrit texts characterize Kali as >a hideous, frightening crone who deals death and destruction, her >victims symbolize the forces of ignorance and evil, making her in >fact a force for good. > >{}"the present-day idea of the goddess as dakshinakali has a >terrifying appearance, but the cronelike emaciation of the >Puranas has given way to voluptuous beauty. " > >Kali has a fierce but smiling face. >Her red tongue, protruding from her gaping mouth is taken either as a >sign of modesty or of her thirst for blood. (Even today >goats are sacrificed in most Kali temples, perpetuating >ancient ritual practices.) >Her untamed hair hints at unrestrained power and boundless freedom. >Alternatively, it may symbolize the mystery of death that encircles >life or the veil of illusion, made of the fabric of >space-time . >Her three eyes represent omniscience, for she >sees past, present and future. >The garland of severed heads around her neck represents the letters >of the Sanskrit alphabet, a Tantric metaphor for creative power. >Encircling her waist, a girdle of severed arms indicates >that she severs the bonds of karma and frees us from >the bondage of accumulated deeds. Her full breasts >symbolize nurturance. Her nakedness signifies freedom from >the veils of illusion, and her dark skin alludes to >the infinitude of the blue-black night sky. > >Kali's paradoxical combination of maternal >tenderness and destructive terror appears polarized on right >and left. Her lower right hand is held in the varada >mudra, extended to offer a boon. One of her greatest >boons is fearlessness, indicated by her upper right >hand, held in the abhaya mudra, upright with the palm >outward. Her upper left hand brandishes a bloodied curving >sword, and her lower left hand dangles a freshly severed >head. Behind these apparent symbols of destruction lies >a different story. The sword symbolizes the higher >knowledge that cuts through appearances and reveals things >as they really are. The severed head represents the >human ego, the limiting sense of I-me-and-mine that she >slays. Together Kali's four hands seem to say, "Take >refuge in me, let go of your existential fear, let me >slay your illusion of smallness and separation, and >you will merge into my infinite bliss." > >Kali haunts the cremation ground, and she is often pictured >standing on the chest of the ashen white Shiva, who lies >still as a corpse. {}According to Shakta and Tantric cosmology, it is the >feminine power that creates, sustains and dissolves the >universe while the masculine principle is the static >substratum. {} >That monistic principle found eloquent _expression in the poetry of >Ramprasad, the greatest of Kali's mystical poets, who lived in the >18th century. > >After a lifetime of extolling his beloved goddess in >human terms as gentle, elusive, playful, or mad, and in >cosmic imagery as the all-pervading creative and >destructive power, on his final day Ramprasad wrote that at >last he understood the supreme mystery that Kali is >one with the highest Brahman. Enlightenment brought >him to the ultimate consciousness beyond all >duality. > >Because of the Bengali devotional poets of the 18th >century, Kali's human and maternal qualities continue to >define the goddess for most of her Indian devotees to >this day. In human relationships, the love between >mother and child is usually considered the purest and >strongest. In the same way, the love between the Mother >Goddess and her human children is considered the closest >and tenderest relationship with divinity. >Accordingly, Kali's Indian devotees form a particularly >intimate and loving bond with her. " > >JAI MAHAKALI ! > >JAI GURUDEVA! > >********************************************************************* > >PRASAD, I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DIRECT YOU TO OTHER WEBSITES AND >LINKS ON KALI. I CAN ALSO RECOMMEND BOOKS ON MOTHER KALI. PLEASE >EMAIL ME, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED! > > > > > > > > > > > > >AUM shrImAtre namaH >AUM namaH shivAya >AUM namaH shivAbhyAm > >Archives : http://www.ambaa.org/ (Edited) > : /messages// > >Contact : help > >Your use of is subject to > > > ___________ Get 25MB, POP3, Spam Filtering with LYCOS MAIL PLUS for $19.95/year. http://login.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus&ref=lmtplus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 dear prasad, you write... I went through those parts of Devi Mahathmyam explaining Kali Devi. I've a Question after going through the parts. What is the significance of the Daemon rakthabija in our life ? Some one kindly explain. This is a good beginning. well, as was explained by Gurudeva Raktabija is not seme external 'demon' living outside of the human body. He is the internal demon living inside our body. He is the 'seeds of desire' that is all of us... The sanskrit word for desire is 'kama' - kama can mean many things ; depends in the context in which it is used. as commonly understood 'kama refers to 'lust', While 'lust' has a bad coonotation as it is generally associated with unnatural longing for women . in hinduism, we often hear about the four purusharthas of life ... 1)artha 2) dharma 3) kama 4) moksha folks, we can lead a life of righteousness (dharmic) in this material world without succumbing to materialist temptations. yes, we can acquire wealth (artha) by righteous means. we can fulfill our desires through 'dharmic' means. by practicing a dharmic way of life, we can satisfy our materialistic desires (kama ) and ultimately attain salvation/ Is acquring wealth bad? no! but if you obtain riches in an ethical way, it is not bad. what about 'desires'? a man has unlimited desires... first, he wants a good job, then he wants a beautiful, then he wants a big palatial house, and then he wants children ... as soon as one desire is satisfied, another desire springs up... this is why the demon raktabija is compared to 'seeds of desire' - as soon as soon mother goodess drinks one drop of boood (raktabija), another one springs up, another one , another one .... so on and so forth... this is one of the explanations for mother goddess kali's long and protruding tongue... sO, WHILE IT IS NATURAL TO HAVE DESIRES, THEY NEED NOT BE TOTALLY SUPPRESSED BUT we need to control our desires in such a way that they do not hinder our spiritual path. sO IF BOTH ATRHA AND KAMA ARE REGULATED BY DHARMA, IT IS EASIER TO attain the goal of liberation or moksha. Shri ramakrishna paramahamsa says one should avoid kanch and kamini - literally taken it means avoid 'gold and women' but the deeper meaning is do not become slaves to your desires... WHEN YOU take refuge at the lotus feet of mother kali she helps us slowly to overcome this internal demon called 'desires' ... but this is only one of the many intenal demons --- there are many more... 1)laziness and sloth - mahisasura 2)anger and jealousy madhu and kaitabha- 3)ignorance - dhumralochana 4) grred and false attachments - chanda munda 5) kama- raktabija and the biggest demon of all 'ego' the divine mother is also called - one whose eyes are full of kama or love ? Kama for whom? her kameshwera - her lord ! and her devottes- bhaktas! Let my eyes also bhold the beautiful visions of Mahurai meenakshi (the fish eyed goddess) , KASI VISALAKSHI( goddeswith the huge eyes - goddess annapurna of kasi) and kanchi kamakshi (the goddess whose eyes are full of love )! jai mahakali jai gurudeva ps i would request other learned members like sree sree vijaya ganapathy or other kali bhaktas like sicva_dancer etx to add to my cooments. corrections are also appreciated! in ever-loving service at the divine feet of the divine mother (pada- kamalam ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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