 Shakti Sadhana KALI : INTRODUCTION by YeShe "Kali is none other than Brahman. That which is
called Brahman is really Kali.She is the Primal Energy. When that Energy remains inactive, I call It Brahman,and when It creates,
preserves, or destroys, I call It Sakti or Kali. What you call Brahman I call Kali. Brahman and Kali are not different. The are
like fire and its power to burn:if one thinks of fire one must think of its power to burn.If one recognizes Kali one must also
recognize Brahman; again,if one recognizes Brahman one must recognize Kali.Brahman and Its Power are identical.It is Brahman
whom I address as Sakti or Kali". 
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"Then the demons saw the Goddess, smiling slightly, Mounted on her lion, on the
great golden peak of the highest mountain.Having seen her, they made ready in their efforts to abduct her,While others
approached her with swords drawn and bows bent.Ambika then uttered a great wrathful cry against them,And her face became
black as ink in anger. From the knitted brows of her forehead’s surface immediately Came forth Kali, with her
dreadful face, carrying sword and noose. She carried a strange skull topped staff, and wore a garland of human heads; She was
shrouded in a tiger skin, and looked utterly gruesome with her emaciated skin, Her widely gaping mouth, terrifying with its
lolling tongue, With sunken, reddened eyes and a mouth that filled the directions with roars. She fell upon the great
Asuras in the army, slaying them immediately. She then devoured the forces of the enemies of the gods.” Devi Mahatmya, 7.2 - 7.8 |
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HER STORY Over the centuries, the macabre figure of Goddess KALI has been Mother and Supreme Brahman to countless millions. Encoded in her symbolism and mythology, we find the path of liberation from the Ego that so deludes us, from the illusion of Duality that it creates. In most artistic representations, KALI stands with lolling tongue over the prone, often lifeless form of Shiva, in the midst of a cremation ground. She wears a garland of severed heads and a belt of freshly severed arms. Her hair is matted and wild, cascading over Her shoulders and back; both skin and hair as black as the night. Her form is emaciated is many older conceptions, though She is often conceived as beautiful and even voluptuous in more modern renderings. She is agitated with activity, moving steadily forward upon the gray corpse of her consort. She is a Goddess who embodies all of our worst fears -- Death, Infinity, the Unknown. But it is our own delusions and fixations that make it necessary for KALI to adopt this appearance toward Her devotees, underlining Her role as Creatrix, Destroyer and Protector alike of all Creation. Detractors charge that KALI’s mythology reveals a hunger for the flesh and blood of this world. But She was known for thousands of years before the cult of the Thugees committed the first murders in Her name. She did not need such devotees nor did She need our actual flesh to carry out Her intent toward Creation - Her intent to open the path for us, her children, back to the Supreme Divine. Every Creature who is born is, in time, called back to Her. "Ward off the she-wolf and the wolf,
ward off the thief, O Ratri, The fearfulness of her image and the desire expressed in her
destructive actions represent nothing more than the delusions that we, Her children, involve ourselves in every day of our lives. She
manifests the delusions that veil our soul and minds, separating us from our true nature within KALI Herself, within Brahman.
"Fixing the mind upon me as the Goddess
transcending all space and time, The relationship between us -- KALI and Her children -- endures for
life after life in this cycle of Maya, though KALI is Maya and we are KALI -- All is One. "Maya is variously called knowledge, illusion, matter, nature, energy, or the unborn. KALI’s image terrifies. Maya terrifies us at every step we
take in this life, as well as in our death. This separation, this duality, is ever our nature here in the world of those who have
been born. But in reality, the uncontrolled power that is Maa KALI the unveils our Union with Brahman.The moment that we come to
know this truth, unseparated from mind and heart, is the moment we come home to our Mother.
KALI’s appearance and unbridled actions only seem fearful. In reality, they are the results of delusions and the
ripening of karma of this world. KALI ever reaches out to comfort us and protect us. Her discipline comes to us on account of our
desires in the form of the results of ripening karma over past actions through many past cycles of life.
“Though her power of ignorance, she
shows herself as the world, like a rope appearing as a serpent, wreath, and the like. Through her power of knowledge, she
dissolves the world back into herself. We glorify her, Ruler of the Universe My sacred syllable Hrim transcends the distinction of
‘name’ and named.” Beyond all dualities. It is whole, infinite being, consciousness, and bliss. One should meditate on that
reality within the flaming light of consciousness Like clarified butter hidden in milk, knowledge dwells in every being; One should
stir continuously, using the mind as the churning stick.” |    
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“The All-Auspicious Adi Maya -- the Great Sakti Bhavani, the Giver of Everything, Who is Nature both with
and without attributes, Who is not different from Brahma, who is both Purusa and Prakriti, the Creatrix, the Perservatrix and the
Destructrix of all, the Mother of all the gods, beings and lokas -- is the Great Goddess of the Brahmanda. She is without beginning
or end, fully present in all beings and everywhere. It is this Bhavani who assumes the various endless forms such as Vaisnavi,
Sankari, Brhmi, Vasavi, Varuni, Varahi, Nara Simhi, Maha Laksmi the One Without a Second, Vedamata and others. It is this Vidya
nature who is the One and the only Root of this tree of Samsara, the Universe.” “Through me a person eats food: Anyone who sees, who breathes, who hears what is
spoken does so through me. Unknowing, they depend on me. Hear, O famous one---I am telling you something worthy of faith. I myself
proclaim this state of affairs that is approved by gods and men. Whomsoever I wish I make mighty, a Brahman, a seer, a sage. I draw
the bow for Rudra, so his arrow may slay the foe of sacred speech.
I stir up quarrels among people; I pervade heaven and earth. On the summit of the world, I give birth to the father; my origin is in the waters, in the ocean
Thence I spread through all the worlds, and I touch yonder sky with my summit. I blow forth like the wind, grasping all worlds. Beyond heaven, beyond this earth,
in my greatness such have I become.” |
