The story goes that once Parvati was so angry that her whole body turned black and she started to dance-a dance of destruction. Unable to stop her, Shiva, as the last resort, lay himself in her way in the form of a corpse. Only when Parvati, as Kali, realized that she had stepped on her husband, did she stop to think what she was doing and she hung out her tongue in shame. The image of the goddess as the destroyer is quite graphic - a necklace of human heads, skull and a sickle in hand and a red tongue hanging out. The dead body that she steps so nonchalantly on in this painting in the shava or literally, the corpse which signifies many things-her triumph in general, the limits of time, and in some cases even Shiva, bereft of his power, when his shakti has emanated itself and left him. Shiva lying in a convoluted position has a cobra around his neck. In one hand he holds the trishula and the in the other hand, the 'damaru', a small hand drum. The crescent moon still shines, as he himself lies lifeless.
This description by Kiranjyot
Of Related Interest:
Kali (Miniature Painting On Paper)
Kali The Terrible (Batik Painting On Cotton)
A Prayer and Accompaniment to the Worship of Kali (Tantra Painting)
Kali the Benevolent Goddess (Brass Statue)
Mahakali, or Kali (Large Sculpture)
Kali Photo Pendant (Jewelry)
Singing to the Goddess Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal (Book)
Mother Goddess as Kali - The Feminine Force in Indian Art (Article)
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