Kali: Goddess of Righteous Rage

The image of Kali is undeniably fearsome. Her face is demonic, complete with fangs. Her hair is long and disheveled. She has many arms, sometimes four, sometimes more. Her hands hold weapons and even a severed head. She wears a necklace of skulls and an apron of severed arms. And of course, there’s her famous, serpentine tongue, perhaps her most iconic attribute. Kali’s appearance is so disturbing, she makes Medusa look warm and fuzzy. But her startling appearance is deceiving.

Kali is a misunderstood and much-maligned deity. Hollywood has played a major role in this misrepresentation, typically depicting Kali as a bloodthirsty monster. In the West, Kali is mainly known from her depiction in the film, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. As a result, she’s perceived to be an evil demon. Unfortunately, this false image forms the foundation for the Western view of Kali. However, closer examination of the true Kali myth reveals the truth.

Kali has three primary translations; time, death, and the black one. She’s commonly known as the destroyer. According to myth, she was summoned to destroy demons, making her a heroic figure. But she also destroys the ego, which causes profound transformation and deep spiritual awakening. In much of the world, Kali is correctly understood to be a loving and benevolent figure. She is known as Kali Ma, the Divine Mother and protector of the vulnerable, particularly women and children. Kali is no evil monster, but rather, quite the opposite.

Kali is compelling because of her complexity. She represents the dark aspects of existence, like violence and death. But she also represents spiritual growth and awareness. Her appearance and her wrath are monstrous. Yet, she’s a loving, nurturing, maternal figure. She’s a destroyer, but she’s also a transformer. To embrace Kali is to be changed because she’s a doorway to higher consciousness and spiritual awareness. 

Perhaps it’s no accident that Kali is so misrepresented in the West. Perhaps it’s by design. Because Kali represents an idea as unsettling as her appearance. She represents righteous rage. It’s a rage that demands swift and savage justice and retribution. The modern world is filled with evil and exploitation. Predators routinely prey on the weak and defenseless, often with impunity. Our “leaders” and the media who speak on their behalf, seem to encourage a herd-like acceptance of this mass madness from society. The case of Jeffrey Epstein is an excellent example of why Kali consciousness is so desperately needed. Epstein and his associates represent a genuine predator class, and it’s they who are the real monsters. It’s they who need to be destroyed.

If ever there were a time for the righteous rage of Kali, that time is now.