Kali (Kali Ma)
Kali is a grisly creature with a skeletal body which is strewn with serpents and skulls. She wears corpses as earings and a girdle of severed hands.
She once fought a demon named Raktavija but, every time he was wounded, a drop of his blood would fall to the ground and a thousand giants would spring from the drop. The only way Kali could prevent this was to drink each drop before it landed until she had drained the demon's veins.
Despite her appearance, many men who claimed to have seen her in visions describe her as being placid and delightful, motherly and fine.
Kali inspired the cult of Thagna (or Thugee). The Cultists (Thugs) made it their sacred duty to waylay innocent travellers and strangle them with knotted cloths.
The word 'thagna' means to deceive and the Thugs lived in the community as respected and orderly citizens. They were well liked, prominent men who led double lives.
What started as a serious religious attitude later became a method of personal gain for the unscrupulous. The cult was especially active during early Victorian days in India although the British tried their best to suppress the murderous side of it.
Kali stands for energy, both creative and destructive. Her cult is linked to Tantric practices (which aim to enable men to rise above their sexual nature by gaining full control over themselves). In her positive aspect Kali is named Durga, Kumari or Parvati. The city of Calcutta was named after her.
Adapted from 'A guide to the Gods' by Richard Carlyon
