Thank you for the most delightful presentation of Kali's pictures and
the lovely poem! Simply marvellous!

well, harshaji , please find the explanation of Kali's portruding
tongue in the accompanying narration...

There is yet another version of Kali's manifestation. The Gods were
not able to kill the demon, Raktabija. Each drop of his blood that
touched the ground turned into another Raktabija. Thus, every time he
was struck, millions of his duplicates appeared all over the
battlefield.

At this point the Gods were totally desperate, and they then turned
to Shiva for help. Shiva, though, was so deep in meditation that he
could not be reached. The Gods then turned to Shiva's consort Parvati
for help. The Goddess Parvati immediately set out to do battle with
the demon, and it was then that She took the form of Kali.

Kali then appeared, with Her red eyes, dark complexion, gaunt
features, hair unbound, and Her teeth as sharp as fangs. She rode
into the midst of the battle on a lion, and it was only then that the
demon Raktabija first began to experience fear.

Kali then ordered the Gods to attack Raktabija, while She spread Her
tongue over the battlefield, covering it completely, and preventing
even one drop of the demon's blood from falling. In doing this, Kali
prevented Raktabija from reproducing himself again, and the Gods were
then victorious.

Since KALI KEEPS ON DRINKING THE DROPS OF BLOOD , HER TONGUE KEEPS
GROWING IN SIZE TO JUST KEEP UP WITH RAKTABIJA'S MULTIPLE
MANIFESTATIONS!

(Now who is Raktabija? RAKTABIJA IS the demon within us - the 'seeds
of desire' in all of us... every time, one desire is satisfied ,
another desire crops up. AND MOTHER KALI teaches us that there is no
end to human desires and only by controlling our desries for material
things, we can advance on the spiritual path...)



Kali is the ferocious aspect of Devi Durga perfectly personified.
According to the Purana, this image of Durga as Kali, so widely
worshipped in eastern parts of India, owes its origin to the battle
of Durga with Shumbha and Nishumbha. She after her victory over these
demons was so overjoyed that she started the dance of death. In her
great ecstasy Kali continued the destruction. As the prayers of all
gods could not calm her, Lord Shiva had to intervene. Seeing no other
way of dissuading her, the God threw himself amongst the bodies of
slain demons. When Kali saw that she was dancing over the body of her
husband, she put her tongue out of her mouth in sorrow and surprise.
She remained stunned in this posture and this is how Kali is shown in
images with the red tongue protruding from her mouth.

http://www.dollsofindia.com/kali.htm

jai mahakali!

jai gurudeva!