'Wearing' The Offerings of Her Devotees

Of all the forms of divinity in the Hindu pantheon, that of Goddess Kali is perhaps the most enigmatic. This is not surprising; throughout history, mankind has been baffled by profound symbology, especially by that which does not conform to its own 'sweet and refined' standards.

'The word 'Kali' comes from the well-known word kala, meaning time in Sanskrit. She is the power of time. Time, as we all know, is all-destroying, all-devouring. That is why Krishna says in the Gita (11.32) that he is time grown to infinite proportions and destroyer the worlds. Indeed, a power that destroys can only be depicted in terms of awe-inspiring and terrifying imagery.

This sculpture, carved out of Shivani teak wood in the city of Mysore, depicts the goddess as per her imagery found in the scriptures. She stands in a challenging posture, on a supine body turned sideways, which is none other than her husband Lord Shiva.

Minimally clad, goddess Kali wears a apron of human hands held together at by an elaborate waist-band. The hand represents capacity for work, therefore, the apron of human arms symbolizes the fruits of karma offered to Kali by her devotees. The goddess is so pleased with this offering that she wears them on her body.

In addition to conventional ornaments, she wears a prominent necklace of human skulls reaching down to her navel. He head is adorned with a tall crown, rising up like a temple's spire. This signifies her exalted status in the Hindu pantheon.

She has four hands. In the upper right hand she holds a raised knife, while the corresponding left holds a human head she has severed with this very blade. That this is a freshly cut head is evident from the long shower of blood flowing from it. The goddess very deftly collects it in a bowl with a slight deflection of her left hand.

The fourth hand makes the boon-granting (varada) mudra, which symbolizes her ever-readiness to grant boons to those who take refuge under her protective shelter.

There is a sun-like halo behind her head and her beautiful long tresses cascade down symmetrically from the two sides of her crown, reaching nearly to her knees.