ShivKali Oracles – Shyama Kali

Shyama Kali is the most homely form of Kali. She should be worshipped inside home. Even before, 300-400 years ago, people considered Kali to be unlucky. A Kali sadhak would be avoided during that time. The Kali idols we usually see during puja or in our home, that form is popularized by an 18^th century Bengali saint- Krishnananda Agambagish. He was a pure Kali sadhak and wanted to visualize Ma Kali. One night, he saw a dream that Kali is telling him that next morning after bathing, whoever he sees first, Kali looks like her. So, next morning, sadhak took a bath and while returning he came across a village lady. It was a married woman wearing a white saree with red border (a usual popular dress in old Bengali culture) and she was applying cow dung patties on a wall. The sadhak was astonished to see this and kept standing still. When the lady saw him like this, she bit her tongue out of shyness and left the place. Based on this experience, Krishnananda made Kali idols and it became popular gradually. Before this, sadhaks worshipped Kali in yantra form.

In a previous chapter, I gave a short description of Ma Kali’s appearance. To add to that, the severed demon head she holds, belongs to a demon named Karal and it is of yellow colour. The kharga she holds, is called ‘gyan-kharga’ and is prepared by Vishwakarma. The gyan kharga has an eye drawn on it, which symbolizes Taranisen, son of Bibhishan. After Bibhishan joined Raam, Taranisen had to decide which side to join. Though he was a Raam-devotee, he decided to fight against him. In the battlefield, Taranisen kept fighting raam while chanting Raam-naam. Raam did not know how to defeat him due to his faith. Then Bibhishan advised Raam to pierce Taranisen’s tongue while he pauses between two chants. Raam did so and redeemed Taranisen from all worldly misery. Ma Kali’s khraga has Taranisen’s eye on it.

In an actual puja of Kali, there would be a decorative pandal behind the idol which has pictures about Kali. The pandal would also have a clock (made off of clay) as Kali controls kaal (time). On the two sides of Kali, reside two entities. On right side, Dakini remains- she has head like a snake and holds a kataan and kamandul; her complexion is like fire. On the left side, there is Rakini- she has head like an owl and holds kharga and dhal; her skin colour is blue. In reality, Kali rides a white lion, not a jackal. The jackal is kept as a symbol of Mahishasur whom Ma Durga defeated but gave a boon to receive puja whenever she visits earth.

Shyamakali puja is a major festival in West Bengal and one event Before the Kali Puja (done in Amavashya) is Bhoot-Chaturdashi. On this day, we should light up 14 predeep/deepam/vilakku to welcome blessings of our ancestors. Also, it is important to light up firecrackers (that produce light, not sound).

Kaal controls time. Kaal worships Mahakaal (Shiv). Shiv worships Kali. Kali worships Guhya-Kali (a very secret and occult form of Kali). 64 yoginis surround Kali and it is said that if anyone chants the name of these yoginis, he/she can achieve success, luck and health. However, one must not keep pictures of these yoginis at home.

Though you can keep pictures of Nitya Kali or Shyama Kali at home, you must avoid worshipping her as per tantric way inside home. The baishnab or vedic way of Kali puja is not much fruitful and gives limited blessings. If one wants to do Kali-sadhana, it should be done tantric way and away from home, preferably under a guru and near Kali-peeth. Sri Raamkrishna himself mentioned many times that one should avoid doing Kali puja at home- because if you worship in vedic way then you get minimal blessings; if you worship in tantric way in your home, then your home will get destroyed; if you worship in tantric way outside home, then you will neglect your sangsaarik duties. On top of that, tantric Kali puja is very hard to do and consists of numerous rituals that require corpses, meat, alcohol and many more. The puja takes many hours and one must not leave the puja in the middle. Also, right after puja is done, Kali idol should be immersed. But now-days idols are kept for 3-4 days, often due to business purposes.