Bhadrakali
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2024) |
Bhadrakali | |
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Time | |
Other names | Maha Maya, Shiva Purana also addresses as Rudra Kali being Shiva's daughter, Shiva nandini |
Sanskrittransliteration | भद्रकाली |
Abode | No abode. Considered Digambari (One wearing directions as dress) means all-pervading. |
Mantra |
|
Weapon |
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Battles | Daksha yajna,Wars with Darika, Ruru, Raktabija. |
Day | Tuesday/ Friday[1] |
Mount | Vetala |
Texts | Shiva Purana,Kalika Purana,Devi Bhagavatham, Durga saptha shati etc. |
Festivals | Various cultures across the Indian subcontinent observe reverence through diverse festivals. |
Part ofa serieson |
Shaktism |
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Hinduism portal |
Bhadrakali(IAST:Bhadrakālī;lit. 'auspicious Kali'[2]) is aHindu goddess.She is considered to be the auspicious and fortunate form ofAdi Shaktiwho protects the good, known asBhadra.[3]
InVaishnavism,Bhadrakali is among the many epithets ofYogamaya,the internal potency of illusion of the preserver deity,Vishnu.[4]She is considered the consort of lordvirabhadraswamy(a form of lord shiva).
Etymology
[edit]The name Bhadra comes from Sanskrit. In Sanskrit, "bhadra" means "auspicious" or "fortunate". Another interpretation traces the name to the Sanskrit root word (Beeja akshara) "bha" and "dra". The letter "bha" signifies "delusion" or "maya", while "dra" is used as a superlative meaning "the most" or "the greatest". Together, "bhadra" may mean "maha maya" or "great delusion".[5][6]
Forms
[edit]According toTantra Rahasya,the feminine form of the divine (devi) arose from the north face ofShiva,which is blue and with three eyes.[7]
Worship
[edit]According toKeralatraditions, the events described in theMarkandeya Puranaassociated with Bhadrakali (her slaying of the demonDarikato liberate the universe from evil) took place in Kerala, nearMadayiin theKannur District.[8]She is seen to protect the honour of women and to bestow all spiritual knowledge.[9]
Family deity
[edit]According to theNadarcommunity of Tamil Nadu, there were seven children born todevarishisand devakanyas. They gave their children to Bhadrakali, who took and nursed them. The progenies of these children are today believed to be the ancestors of the Nadar community. A Bhadrakali temple is usually at the center of almost every Nadar settlement. Bhadrakali is also the tutelary deity of the Nadar community of Tamil Nadu.[10]
Other legends
[edit]According to legends, theSanskritpoetKalidasais believed to have gained mental consciousness due to the divine will of Bhadrakali.[11]
References
[edit]- ^"Article - Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, and Kali in the West".
- ^Hudson, D. Dennis (25 September 2008).The Body of God: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram.Oxford University Press, USA. p. 562.ISBN978-0-19-536922-9.
- ^www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019)."Story of Bhadrakālī".www.wisdomlib.org.Retrieved13 September2022.
- ^Bryant, Edwin F. (18 June 2007).Krishna: A Sourcebook.Oxford University Press. p. 468.ISBN978-0-19-028756-6.
- ^"Sanskrit Dictionary".sanskritdictionary.com.
- ^"A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary".Dsal.uchicago.edu. 1 June 2002.Retrieved23 February2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Chapter Six: Shakti and Shakta".sacred-texts.com.Retrieved16 September2024.
- ^Maha Kshethrangalude Munnil, D. C. Books, Kerala.
- ^"The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section CCLXXXIV".sacred-texts.com.Retrieved16 September2024.
- ^Robert L. Hardgrave (1969).The Nadars of Tamilnad: The Political Culture of a Community in Change.University of California Press. p.38.ISBN81-7304-701-4.
- ^"The Grace of Mother Kali".
Further reading
[edit]- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend(ISBN0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
External links
[edit]- Media related toBhadrakaliat Wikimedia Commons
- Kodimatha Pallipurathu Kavu Bhagavathy Temple Kerala | Kerala Pilgrim Centers