The four armed deity is seen here in an elaborate head dress and elegant jewellery and a long garland. Kali, justifying her name, is totally black. Her long, red tongue is protruding. Some devotees describe Kali's act of biting her large protruding tongue as an expression of the control of the senses. It is remarkable that despite her gruesome appearance, Kali holds such a key position in Hindu religious devotion.
Kali is the predominant goddess in Tantric painting, which emphasizes the active female, passive male roles by depicting Kali striding upon a supine Shiva. In one hand, she holds a chopper and in the other hand on the same side, she holds a beheaded head. To this traditional theme the artist has added a chequered, black and white tiled floor. Kali is placed in a red niche, outside which is sky blue. The characteristic feature of batik, the crackle, shows prominently on red as well as the blue.
Of Related Interest:
Goddess Kali (Orissa's Paata Painting on Paper)
Kali in the Cremation Grounds (Miniature Painting On Paper)
A Prayer and Accompaniment to the Worship of Kali (Madhubani Painting on Hand Made Paper)
Kali and the Arrested Moment (Brass Statue)
A Kali in Every Woman: Motherhood and the Dark Goddess Archetype (Article)
Kali Puja (Paperback Book)
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