Kali and her attendants dance to the beat of the music generated by Lord Shiva on his drum, accompanied by animal-headed attendants. Associated with chaos and destruction, Kali's own retinue brandishes swords and skull cups from which they drink a continuous stream of intoxicating blood. Kali, like Shiva, has a crescent moon in her hair, but in all other respects the two are distinguished from one another. While Shiva has a sweet expression, plump body, and white complexion, dark kali's emaciated limbs, angular gestures, and fierce grimace convey a wilder, uncontrollable temperament. Her loose hair, skull garland, and tiger wrap twirl around her body as she gyrtaes to the rhythm of Shiva's drum.
This terrific and poignant imagery starkly reveals the nature of Kali as the Divine Mother. The great Bengali bhakta Ramaprasad expresses his feelings thus:
Behold my Mother playing with Shiva, lost in an ecstasy of joy! Drunk with a draught of celestial wine, She reels, and yet does not fall. Erect She stands on Shiva's bosom, and the earth Trembles under Her tread; She and Her Lord are mad with frenzy, casting Aside all fear and shame. ... Ramprasad (1718-75)
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