The statue of Maa Kali represents supreme feminine energy in Hindu tradition. Her dark form, protruding tongue, and warrior imagery symbolize time, wisdom, and ego destruction. Keeping her idol at home, whether it is the peaceful Dakshina Kali or the cosmic Mahakali form, is auspicious and offers protection and strength to the devotees. In this blog, we look at the meaning behind Maa Kali’s iconography, some popular statues of Kali Maa for home, and answer some of the most common questions, like- is keeping a statue of Kali Maa at home auspicious?
The statue of Maa Kali, a powerful, awe-inspiring, and divine image of Shakti (feminine energy) is one of the most popular icons in Hindu tradition. The fierce form, the ornamentation of hands and heads of demons, and the dark color can surprise many, but all of this signifies her supreme powers.
☛ The dark, bluish-black color of Kali symbolises Kaal (death and time). The dark color of Maa Kali is also explained in the Linga Purana, where to slay the demon Daruka, goddess Parvati entered Shiva’s body and gathered the Halahala poison in her body, emerging as a dark-skinned warrior Kali.
☛ Some idols of goddess Kali or her paintings present her in a smoky grey form, which represents the smoke (dhumra) of the funeral pyres, signifying the death of ego and transformation through wisdom.
☛ The open hair of goddess Kali represents freedom from societal norms as well as the flaming wisdom or Chidagni that removes all ignorance.
☛ The skull garland is often said to have 50 heads, symbolising the syllables of the Sanskrit language, representing Maa Kali’s control over knowledge and the power of vac (speech) as Shabd Brahman (the supreme sound from which the universe originates).
☛ The blood-stained tongue of the goddess calls the devotees to face the innermost fears, desires, and darkness, and emerge on the other side, with nothing but pure wisdom.
The outstretched tongue of Maa Kali in her statues is one of the most popular characteristics of the goddess.
☛ A well-known legend related to this aspect is that of Kali and Shiva. When goddess Kali, after drinking the blood of the demons, was trampling on the battlefield, her ferociousness threatened everyone. The world was about to end. Then, on the request of the gods and other living beings, Shiva came to their rescue.
☛ Quietly, he lay on the ground, and soon enough, goddess Kali reached the spot, unknowingly, placing her foot on the chest of Shiva.
☛ Realizing that he had stepped on her husband, Maa Kali’s tongue rolled out, creating the iconic imagery of “Dakshina Kali”- goddess Kali in a pacified and benevolent mood. Dakshina Kali idols are the most common statues of Maa Kali worshipped in Hindu homes, as a source of auspiciousness, protection, and cosmic wisdom.
☛ The blood-stained tongue of goddess Kali also symbolises her challenge to the devotee, the viewer, to look beyond the fearsome and polluted nature of blood, and to realize that the truth lies beyond such social constructs. This is not an invitation to do whatever you want, but a reminder of looking beyond what is visible, to see the connection between two opposites (purity and impurity).
☛ According to some beliefs, the blood-covered tongue of Maa Kali (symbol of rajas guna) under the white teeth of the goddess represents Sattva guna’s victory over the indulgent and ignorant nature of Rajas and Tamas guna.
A statue of Kali Maa standing on Shiva is the image of the cosmic union of Purusha and Prakriti- the divine masculine and feminine energy. The supreme goddess or Prakriti, is the active energy, who brings Purusha (the stable, dormant energy) into play. As Kali, the goddess, unites with Shiva to cause the destruction of the cosmos, so that a new cycle of creation can start.
And as Parvati, she becomes Ambika- the mother of the universe, creating every living being through her play with Shiva. The icon of Kali standing on Shiva captures the exact moment of the goddess’s potent and potentially destructive energies being calmed and regulated by Shiva. It is a representation of life and death, creation and destruction, a rare visual representation of the beginning and end frozen into metal.
The description of Maa Kali on the battlefield drinking the blood of demons is unforgettable. The legend in the Puranas tell that when Raktabija- a demon who could regenerate himself from the drops of blood that fell from his body, was proving to be menace, Kali was called to drink every drop of his blood.
Each of the regenerated body of Raktabija was slayed and Kali drank all the blood. Thus, the goddess drank blood to protect the world from chaos of Rajktabija and his demon army. In Shakta philosophy, blood represents both life force and a forbidden thing.
Kali’s connection with blood signfies her role as the giver of life, as the primordial mother from whose womb the world is born. Some also believe that the shocking power of blood in idols of Maa Kali is meant to remove the ignorance and human-made difference of pure and impure from the mind of the devotee, leading them to see the supreme truth that lies beyond all duality.
Both Kali and Mahakali are essentially the same goddess, in her different aspects. Kali is a fierce energy, Shakti, the warrior goddess, the embodiment of wrath, who emerges from Parvati and Shiva to fight the armies of demons. Mahakali is her supreme aspect, often represented as a ten-armed and ten-headed goddess, who is without beginning or end. She is the representation of Shakti (feminine energy) that was, is, and will be, the origin and final destination of all cosmic beings and activities.
Yes, keeping an idol of Maa Kali in your home is auspicious and a powerful way to remove negativity from your life and bring wisdom, strength, and success. While the Dakshina Kali idol is one of the most popular forms of the goddess, there are other iconographies and materials, such as brass, bronze, stone or wood, that you can consider, if you are buying a Maa Kali idol for home.
The gentle Dakshina Kali, Maa Kali wall hanging, and modern art sculptures of goddess Kali are several images of the goddess that one can welcome into their home. As you browse the collections online for an idol of Maa Kali that governs and guards your space, here are 5 handpicked statues of the goddess from our collection to inspire you-
Wearing traditional ornaments seen on statues of the goddess in West Bengal and Orissa, this small brass statue presents Maa Kali’s popular imagery as Saumya (calm, benevolent), Dakshina Kali. Fine details, animated face of the goddess, and pure metal make an idol perfect for your Puja temple or personal altar.
The masks of goddesses Kali and Durga are often used in the sacred decor of Hindu homes. The goddess with her gentle eyes looks after everyone in the household, acting as a divine protector of the family from negativity and unseen obstacles in life.
An artistic and eye-catching imagery of Maa Kali, this brass wall hanging presents the goddess in her warrior aspect, with intricate sculpting, fine polish, and traditional Nepalese iconography, which makes it divine and aesthetically rich, ideal to adorn your walls and halls with the power of Kali.
This brass idol of Maa Kali presents the goddess as a fierce deity, an image popular in Kerala and surrounding regions. The flaming aura, sharp teeth, flaring nostrils, and large eyes suggest wrath, while the graceful pose and feminine form balance her fierceness. The paash (noose, symbolizing control), trident (symbol of three gunas and three phases of time- past, present, future), skull cup (for collecting the potent life that flows from a severed head), damru/drum (symbol of cosmic sound)- all characteristics of Maa Kali signify her role as the supreme divine, the Param Brahman, who controls all functions of the Universe.
In this brass sculpture, Maa Kali appears on a mountain, Mandarachal, on which the universe is situated, wrapped by the serpent Vaasuki- the symbol of the axis of the Universe. With the head of the demon Rakabija, she performs a balancing act, like a Nati (a female folk performer), but on a deeper level, it signifies Kali as the balancing force that creates and destroys to maintain the flow of Kaal (time). Her features are simple but identifiable, and her thin body is inspired by the description in the Puranas, where her haggard and emaciated form is mentioned several times. Kali is eternal- this is proven by her ancient appearance in this modern work of art.
The idol of Maa Kali is a visual manifestation of the pure energy that runs through the universe. The amazing appearance of the Hindu goddess leads many to believe that it could be difficult or dangerous to place a murti of Maa Kali at home, but this is incorrect. As the origin, sustenance, and end of the universe, Kali Maa is the most powerful protector one can ask for.
If you are looking for a statue of Kali Maa for your home or Puja ghar, buy it from a trustworthy and established place, in a ritually pure material (brass, bronze, wood or stone) and most importantly, place it in a clean space, and make sure to be respectful towards the goddess. When worshipped and treated with the devotion of a child, the fierce Maa Kali transforms into a mother who will not let any evil or obstacle harm her devotees.
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