The Goddess Kali – Mystic Madness and Her Mantras by Kimberly Moore

“I am not one of those,” he chanted,
Who puts the garland of skulls round
Thy neck,
And then look back in terror
And call Thee ‘The Merciful’.
The heart must become
a burial ground,
Pride, selfishness, and desire all
broken into dust,
Then and then alone with the Mother
dance there!”

~ Vivekenanda

Ma Kali is the embodiment of Time, Karma, Saturn, and the Dance of Death. She lives in the cremation grounds in one of her aspects and all of her aspects signify that she is the momentous force of major transformation. If you resist the transformation, Kali doesn’t mind. She will lay waste to clear the way for new creation with or without you.

Her appearance is an alert to begin serious and honest reflection. What in your life no longer serves you? What limitations and attachments are you willing to release to her? How does time play into your future plans?

Kali is the dreadful but she is also one of the most powerful feminine forces in existence. Her destruction is never indiscriminate. Just like the Borg, resistance is futile, BUT you can connect with the Dark Mother and understand how she works so that the results are not so painful.

The form most often depicted is Her destroyer aspect with black skin, a skirt of human limbs, and a necklace of skulls. She is the creating force of the universe, and is the eternal power of time, order, and chaos. he is dark and formless, and Her unlimited power of transformation is often compared to the black holes found in space. Kali destroys that which is no longer needed, creating a void from which all things are possible.

She is the Shakti of Shiva (with Parvati), and is the embodiment of wild, untamed feminine strength. She calls to our own mystical madness and wild feminine power in her dance of creation/destruction.

This Mind Like A Firefly

This mind, like a firefly, flashes into existence,
Just to call lovers of the Dark One!
Having been summoned into my beloved Kali,
Her Blackness so mystical, so absorbing,
the mind disappears into Her like a candle dropping
into the midnight ocean,
even the cry of ecstasy is lost in Her depths!
Yet those who gaze into Her unfathomable Void
take on a glow that those with sight can see!
How sublime to reflect Her Dark Light!
How sublime to share Her grace-filled gifts!
Extinguish yourself in Her this very instant!
She has waited so long, so patiently
to embrace you – Her beloved.

– Kalidas, Kali’s Bazaar

Krim (pronounced kreem) – Kali’s Bija Mantra

Krim directly relates to Vidyut Shakti (the electrical energy of the universe) and Kriya Shakti (action on every level). It is the first seed mantra that has a hard consonant at the beginning:

Krim begins with Ka, the first of the Sanskrit consonants that indicates manifest prana and the initial phase of energy. To this it adds the Ra-sound or seed of fire, the Ã-sound or focusing power as in the other Shakti mantras. It creates light and intention like Hrim and Shrim but of a more specific, stimulating, and manifesting nature.

Dr. David Frawley

KRIM is the mantra of manifestation and karma and is the seed mantra of Ma Kali. When we chant this mantra, we set the power of Kali in motion which means that it should be used with caution and with the expectation of impactful transformation. This is an energizing and potent mantra that puts us into Kali time and space, as well as having the power to awaken the kundalini.

Krim is a mantra of work, yoga and transformative energy, and is said to be Yoga bija or the ‘seed syllable of Yoga practice’. Its inner application is to awaken the Kundalini Shakti to merge our outer nature back into the higher Self. KRIM stimulates higher perception and higher prana, promoting the yogic process of pratyahara (internalization of mind) and giving greater power to concentration, meditation and Samadhi. The mantra can connect us with the inner power of any deity we wish to connect to.

In terms of Ayurveda, Krim combines Vata (wind, electrical) energy mantra with Pitta (fire) for an adrenaline type effect. It has a powerful electrical force and stimulates all the pranas and Agnis (biological fires), the circulatory and nervous systems, particularly the heart and the liver. In Vedic astrology, Krim relates primarily to the planet Mars, which is the planet of work and effort. Krim is generally a harsh or strong mantra, particularly as used with Hum, and so should be recited with care.

Dr. David Frawley

KALI MANTRA: Om Krim Kalikayai Namaha

Om and Salutations to the Goddess to whom I bow my head

Chanting this mantra brings in the strength, courage, and confidence of the Goddess Kali. Continued repetition assists you in overcoming obstacles that seem impossible. Kali can transform anything.

Bone Skull Mala

One of Goddess Kali’s symbols is the bone skull mala (pictured above). She is portrayed with a garland of fifty heads that represents the fifty letters in the Sanskrit alphabet and communicates Her infinite knowledge. As well, wearing human heads is an intense symbol of liberation and wisdom which is Ma Kali’s Super Shakti Power. Use the skull mala to chant to Ma Kali, to “get out of your head”, and to allow the power of the universe to flow through you. Most bone malas are made from buffalo or yak bone. The animal medicine of both of these animals is service, in this life and after they pass. Bone malas are usually used for Kali only, but I do have one I use for Durga as well that is rounded beads made from yak bone.

**I stock Kali Skull Malas that I bless and chant with them before sending. Please contact me directly to order one: motherhouseofthegoddess@gmail.com

RESOURCES FOR THE GODDESS KALI

Mother of the Universe by Lex Hixon (these are the praise poems)

Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power by Laura Amazzone

Dancing in the Flames by Marion Woodman and Elinor Dickson

Yogic Secrets of the Dark Goddess by Shambhavi L. Chopra

Awakening Shakti by Sally Kempton

Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair : Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess by Ramprasad Sen

Awakening to Kali: The Goddess of Radical Transformation by Sally Kempton (just Kali – not the other Shakti Goddesses, but this is the chapter from Awakening Shakti)

Kali: The Feminine Force by Ajit Mookerjee

Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar by Elizabeth U. Harding

In Praise of Adya Kali: Approaching the Primordial Dark Goddess Through the Song of Her Hundred Names by Aditi Devi

***Contact me directly for Blessed Bone Skull Malas for Kali and custom Goddess blessing boxes for her.

About Mantras:

Healing Mantras: Using Sound Affirmations for Personal Power, Creativity, and Healing by Thomas Ashley-Farrand

Shakti Mantras – Tapping into the Great Goddess Energy Within by Thomas Ashley-Farrand

Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound: Secrets of Seed (Bija) Mantras by Dr. David Frawley

Chakra Mantras: Liberate your Spiritual Genius through Chanting by Thomas Ashley-Farrand

Audible/Audio Recommended Programs:

Mantra – Sacred Words of Power by Thomas Ashley-Farrand

Mantras – A Beginner’s Guide to the Power of Sacred Sound by Thomas Ashley-Farrand