What is the description of the Loka Goddess Kali resides in?

 Kali is beyond the concept of Lokas or you can say in every loka, Kali resides not as a female deity but everything, be it a male form or a female.

Generally Kali is associated with Goddess Parvati and depicted in a female form but if we see carefully.. all the attributes of Kali are of the masculine God Shiva. The garland of skulls, association with cremation grounds, third eye of wisdom, sky clad (Digambar) and the cosmic dance of creation & destruction (Tandava) etc. This is why Shiva is depicted lying under Kali as the Base (Aadhara) Mahakala because the attributes of Shiva are displayed by Kali in the form of his Shakti (Mahakali).

Kali is actually the more absolute and deeper version of Ardhanarishwara because in that one side is Shiva and other is Shakti but Kali has the full feminine appearance of Shakti and all masculine attributes of Shiva merged as one.

Initially Kali does appear as a female deity or a form of Parvati, but as you go deeper into devotion, you realize that Kali is the gender less Brahman who is both Shiva, Shakti and also from nothing to everything.

Further Kali is also described as the one incarnating as Shri Krishna as Devi Purana. Kali is also known as Narayani.

This shows that Kali is not just Shakti, but also Shiva as mentioned above and also Krishna. This means that Kali resides in Manidvipa as both Kameshwara (Shiva) and Kameshwari (Lalita Tripurasundari).

In Shivaloka, Kali resides as Sadashiva and Durga.

In Vaikuntha, Kali resides as Lakshmi Narayan.

The same Kali lives in the forms of both Radha and Krishna in Goloka.

Kali is also in Swarga Loka in the form of all deities and the Gandharvas and Apsaras too.

Then Kali of course lives as the Shiva Parivara. It is Goddess Parvati who takes up the form of Kali but with all attributes of Shiva, Kartikeya, Ganpati etc.

Kali is in the form of Shakti Peethas and their Bhairavas all over and the Saptapuri and Chaar Dhamas.

And the same Kali then is in each and every one, be it male or female. That is why Kali does not have a specific loka to reside, the cosmic energy Kali from highest to lowest is in every form. Basically Kali is Nirakara, formless Brahman as well as the Mahamaya that manifests into a fierce and wrathful form during the destruction but is also gentle for the devotees.

That is how the Infinite Kali expands herself into everything.

Jai Mahakali 🙏

Which are the best photos of the goddess Kali Mata?

 She, who Lord Brahma praised for protection from demons Madhu and Kaitava , when Lord Vishnu was in yoga nindra.

She, who holds scimitar disk, mace arrows bow, lance club, a skulland a conch shell in her ten hands.

She, is most fearful and destructive for demons.

She, who is most compassionate and loving mother for her devotees.

She, who is limitless like the sky.

She, who is the most protective mother, supreme of universe.

She, who is infinite, and no finite dress can cover her, thus depicted as naked.

She, whose waist is encircled with girdle of severel human arms that represents human action.

She, who fulfils all desires of devotees.

She, who is strength of every women.

Maa, am I lucky enough to get your gentle hand in my head or to get the dust of your feet?

Me, a fallen soul, offers you obescience, Oh my maa, please accept me as your child. I so want to be in your arms🙏.

OM KREEM KALIKAYAI NAMAH🙏.

What does the goddess Kali represent?

 Har Har Mahadev!!!

I will give this answer according to Shaiva Philosophy.

So basically the Supreme deities are Lord Sadāśiva and Ma Umā/Adi Shakti. Along with them Sri Lakshmi Narayan. So for the creation of the world, the Supreme deities mainly take three forms, i.e., Brahmā Vishnu Rudra and Sarasvati Lakshmi and Kāli.

So, Ma Kāli is form of Ma Adi Shakti, and she is considered as the Pūrna form. She is the supreme mother goddess herself in a different form.

Now what does she represent? She is the Mother of the Universe. She is the protector of her devotees from Evil. When we consider a little scientific view, then we can say she represents the Ultimate Cosmic Energy. That energy, which is the source of all the creation.

Nowadays, many people think that our scriptures are only symbolic and preach only the science behind it. The complete truth is not given. Yes, God is in the form of energy as well, No doubt about it. But restricting the Lord or the Mother Goddess to just one phenomenon in the Universe is total BOGUS. God is a Sat Chit Ananda Person who controls everything. The Supreme Parents do have a form, but it is not perceivable to our material eyes.

So yes, Ma Kāli represents some scientific phenomena, but she is not only that. We can learn both Para Vidya and Apara Vidya from her. If we take only some instances and try to get scientific theories, that is just a small portion called Apara Vidya. But if we completely surrender to her Lotus feet and gain complete knowledge from her about Bhakti, etc., that is Para Vidya.

जय माँ काली।

ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥

What is the mythology of Kali Purusha?

 Disclaimer: Kali Purusha is not to be confused with Kali Ma (i.e., Goddess Kali, whose name is pronounced 'Kaa-lee', whereas Kali Purusha is pronounced ‘Kuh-lee’).

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!

Kali Purusha is the personality that is the embodiment of all negativity in Kali-yuga (i.e., the age of quarrel) and can loosely be termed as the Vedic equivalent of the personality of Satan in the Abrahamic traditions.

Kali Purusha is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam as the son of anger and envy, the grandson of cunningness and greed, the great-grandson of pride and illusion, and the great-great-grandson of sin and falsehood.

mṛṣādharmasya bhāryāsīd dambhaṁ māyāṁ ca śatru-han asūta mithunaṁ tat tu nirṛtir jagṛhe ’prajaḥ tayoḥ samabhaval lobho nikṛtiś ca mahā-mate tābhyāṁ krodhaś ca hiṁsā ca yad duruktiḥ svasā kaliḥ

Translation:

“Another son of Lord Brahmā was Irreligion, whose wife’s name was Falsity. From their combination were born two demons named Dambha, or Bluffing, and Māyā, or Cheating. These two demons were taken by a demon named Nirṛti, who had no children. Maitreya told Vidura: O great soul, from Dambha and Māyā were born Greed and Nikṛti, or Cunning. From their combination came children named Krodha [Anger] and Hiṁsā [Envy], and from their combination were born Kali and his sister Durukti (Harsh Speech).” - Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.2–3

It is said once Lord Krishna’s leela was finished, Kali Purusha began to reign and increase the influence of adharma and paap (i.e., unrighteousness and sin) in ignorant individuals who lack spiritual consciousness and are attracted to materialism.

yasminn ahani yarhy eva bhagavān utsasarja gām tadaivehānuvṛtto ’sāv adharma-prabhavaḥ kaliḥ
nānudveṣṭi kaliṁ samrāṭ sāraṅga iva sāra-bhuk kuśalāny āśu siddhyanti netarāṇi kṛtāni yat
kiṁ nu bāleṣu śūreṇa kalinā dhīra-bhīruṇā apramattaḥ pramatteṣu yo vṛko nṛṣu vartate

Translation:

“The very day and moment the Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, left this earth, the personality of Kali, who promotes all kinds of irreligious activities, came into this world. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was a realist, like the bees who only accept the essence [of a flower]. He knew perfectly well that in this Age of Kali, auspicious things produce good effects immediately, whereas inauspicious acts must be actually performed [to render effects]. So he was never envious of the personality of Kali. Mahārāja Parīkṣit considered that less intelligent men might find the personality of Kali to be very powerful, but that those who are self-controlled would have nothing to fear. The King was powerful like a tiger and took care for the foolish, careless persons.” - Srimad Bhagavatam 1.18.5–8

To prevent Pariksit Maharaja from killing him, Kali Purusha agreed that he would only reside in places where unrighteous activities were performed.

sūta uvāca abhyarthitas tadā tasmai sthānāni kalaye dadau dyūtaṁ pānaṁ striyaḥ sūnā yatrādharmaś catur-vidhaḥ

Translation:

“Sūta Gosvāmī said: Mahārāja Parīkṣit, thus being petitioned by the personality of Kali, gave him permission to reside in places where gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter were performed.” - Srimad Bhagavatam 1.17.38

He was not destined to be killed by Pariksit Maharaja because it is prophesied that Lord Vishnu, as His incarnation of Lord Kalki, will kill all adharmic personalities, including Kali Purusha, and end Kali-yuga:

aśvam āśu-gam āruhya devadattaṁ jagat-patiḥ asināsādhu-damanam aṣṭaiśvarya-guṇānvitaḥ
vicarann āśunā kṣauṇyāṁ hayenāpratima-dyutiḥ nṛpa-liṅga-cchado dasyūn koṭiśo nihaniṣyati

Translation:

“Lord Kalki, the Lord of the universe, will mount His swift horse Devadatta and, sword in hand, travel over the earth exhibiting His eight mystic opulences and eight special qualities of Godhead. Displaying His unequaled effulgence and riding with great speed, He will kill by the millions those thieves who have dared dress as kings.” - Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.19–20

This is stated by Lord Vishnu Himself in the Kalki Purana to the devatas:

"After hearing everything that the demigods had to say regarding the situation on earth, the lotus-eyed Lord Hari said: O Brahma, rest assured that I will soon descend to the earth and appear in the village known as Shambhala. I will take birth in the house of a Brahmana named Vishnuyasha, from the womb of his wife, Sumati. My mission will be to eliminate the wicked Kali and his influence with the help of My four brothers. O devatas, your expansions should also take birth on the earth to assist Me in My mission. My consort, the beloved lotus-eyed Kamala-devi, will also appear on the earth, having the name Padma. She will be born from the womb of Kaumudi, the wife of Brihadratha, the king of Simhala. O demigods, you should not delay. By your plenary portions, take birth on the earth. Later on, I will entrust the responsibility for ruling the earth to two powerful kings named Maru and Devapi. I will then again establish Satya-yuga, and thus reinstate the principles of religion as they were before. Rest assured that I will return to Vaikuntha only after destroying the poisonous snake, Kali." - Kalki Purana (2.4–8)

Hare Krishna

How did Cāmundā Kālī come into existence according to the story of Śumbha and Niśumbha?

 Chamunda Kaali is a roopa of Umadevi’s Durga roopa. When the devatas were frustrated by the nuisance of Shumbha and Nishumbha, they approached Kailasa and prayed there to Vishnumaya Durga, who had previously killed Mahishasura. They praised Her as present in every soul in the form of power, intellect, hunger, mother, peace, forgiveness, shyness, sleep/slumber, knowledge, growth, satisfaction, courage, etc. She is present in every soul as these qualities in three forms - Sattvika, Raajasika and Taamasika. That’s why the devatas say, “Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha”, thus bowing to the three forms of the Devi.

When this was going on, Umadevi was going for a bath when She saw the devatas praying. She thought, “When I am here, whom are these devatas praying to?” Suddenly, a Devi came from Her body cell. She was dark in color and was holding a bell, trident, plough, conch shell, and a cylindrical club, a discus, a bow, and an arrow. This was none other than Mahasaraswati. This is Umadevi’s Durga roopa. Earlier, Umadevi had a dark body, due to which Lord Shiva once mockingly called Her Kaali. She felt bad and did penance to please Lord Brahma, and She got a golden body, after which She was known as Gowry. Now, this dark body didn’t go to waste. It was in Her body cells. The devatas have the power to do so. So, now when these devatas were praising Vishnumaya Durga, this Vishnumaya Durga entered that dark body of Umadevi present in Her cell and came out as Mahasaraswati. That body contained Uma sannidhana; therefore, it is Umadevi’s Durga roopa. Since She came from Umadevi’s body cell (Kosha or cell), She was known as Kaushiki.

Now, when this Chandika Durga (Mahasaraswati) was sitting on Her vehicle, which is the lion, then Shumbha and Nishumbha both saw Her. They were captivated by Her beauty and wanted to marry Her, due to which they sent a messenger to Devi. That messenger came and told Chandika Durga that Shumbha and Nishumbha were attracted by Her beauty and wanted to marry Her. Devi, on hearing this, said, “Out of childishness, in my childhood I had vowed that I would marry the one who could defeat me. If they defeat me, then only I can marry them. Go and tell this to both of the demon kings.”

The messenger went and told everything that Devi told. Both Shumbha and Nishumbha were very angry about this and considered that Devi was being adamant. So, they sent a demon by the name Dhoomralochana. Dhoomralochana came with a large troop to attack Devi. He came running towards Devi in pure anger. Devi reduced him to ashes just by Her humkaara (making of the ‘Hum’ sound). When the news of Dhoomralochana’s death reached Shumbha and Nishumbha, they were very much angry, and they sent Chanda and Munda, named demons, to fight Devi. Here, the lion of Devi started destroying the soldiers. With its nails, it killed the demon soldiers; with its bare hands, it hit the soldiers and beheaded them. The lion pounced on some soldiers and killed them. Thus, the king of lions destroyed many soldiers in this manner.

Now, Chanda and Munda came there to fight. On seeing Devi sitting on the Mount Kailasa, on Her vehicle, the lion, they both ran towards Her to attack Her. At that time, Devi was very angry at them. And from Her forehead came Kaali. She was a very fierce form of Devi, with blood-red eyes and a garland of human heads; Her tongue had come out as She came out, wearing the tiger skin as Her clothes. As She was coming out, She started killing the demons. She pulled out the demons by their legs, heads, etc., and ate them and killed them. She pulled some demons by their hair, some by their neck, some by their legs, some by their thighs, like this, and ate them. This way, Kaali was fiercely fighting with the demons. This Kaali now fought with Chanda and cut his head and killed him. On seeing this, Munda was frightened. He ran from there, but Devi caught him and laughed aloud, beheaded Munda too, and killed him.

Now, this Kaali went to Chandika Durga and told Her that She had killed Chanda and Munda. Chandika Durga said, “Since you killed these two wicked demons, Chanda and Munda, you will be known as Chamunda/Chamundi. That’s why Kaalidevi is known as Chamunda.

यस्माच्चण्डं च मुण्डं च गृहीत्वा त्वमुपागता।
चामुण्डेति ततो लोके ख्याता देवि भविष्यसि॥
Because you have captured and brought to me the severed heads of both Chanda and Munda, you, O Goddess, shall henceforth be known and revered throughout the world by the name Chamunda.
[Markandeya Purana, Devi Mahatmya, Uttara Charita, Chanda Munda Vadha, Shloka 27]

Hope this helps!
Jay SriRam!
ShriKrishnarpanamastu!

Are Kali and Shiva the same?

 Yes, absolutely.

Kali is Shiva in his absolute femininity. The projection or the executive power (Shakti) of Shiva depicted in a female form is Kali. And vice versa, the stable base or the consciousness that eternally holds Kali depicted in a male form is Shiva. The relationship of Shiva and Shakti is beyond everything, unlike in humans or animals where there are two different entities or souls that come into a relationship, for example.. A husband and wife, in case of Shiva and Shakti, it's one Supreme Entity that functions in duality.. However, the truth is non-duality.

So definitely, Shakti is not separate from Shiva. The Ultimate Brahman has two aspects– Purush and Prakriti.

One is the static, unmoving, still consciousness and the other is the flowing, active, dynamic energy. The static aspect has the flowing energy to keep it charged and the flowing aspect has the static consciousness to hold it in a right direction.

The union of these two aspects is the one complete reality. It is only for the expansion that the split happens and then creation takes place, from one to two to infinite forms are taken by Parabrahman.

Shiva's own reflection manifests as Kali (Shakti)

Har Har Mahadev 🙏 Jai Mahakali 🙏

What does the depiction of Kali with Shiva and Mahakal reveal about the roles of these deities in Hindu mythology?

 It’s a deep concept in Tantra.

The image of Goddess Kali with Shiva & Mahakal shows a very deep concept in Tantra. These 3 aren't 3 but actually 1 Ultimate Truth represented in 3 forms.

Firstly, Shiva is depicted lying down in Shavasana, above him is Mahakal who is Shiva himself but in a more intense and fierce form. Above Mahakal, it's Maa Kali who is seated.

It is actually the depiction of the energies.

Firstly, Shiva as the auspicious, benevolent one serves as the base. This is the calm, peaceful force, the Consciousness.

Above him is Mahakal, the fierce form of Shiva who is the controller of time, he is the Ultimate Ruler who brings the transformation, the necessary change and evolution. Above Mahakal is Mahakali, his Queen, the Ultimate Energy who acts as the unstoppable force who makes things happen.

Now this depiction is not about superiority of one over the other, it is the perfect depiction of the static, still Aadhara (Shiva) upon which the active forces Mahakal (Shiva) and Kali (Shakti) function.

The idea is that when you are absolutely still (Shiva), it serves as the foundation for the transformation (Mahakal) and then you turn into the unstoppable, uncontrollable force (Kali). So the peaceful, calm and stable Shiva serves as the base for the transformation (Mahakal) who then eventually becomes Mahakali. Kali (Shakti) is Shiva himself at 100% femininity (dynamic force) when Shiva puts down his masculinity to 0 level (static), the more stable and still remains, his Shakti emerges from him with more intensity.

Mahakal is the perfect balance, equilibrium between the inactive state of Shiva and the unstoppable force of Kali. The union of Shiva and Shakti is the perfect representation of the functioning of Prakriti over Purush as the Aadhara (Base).

This depiction serves as a great lesson in understanding the basic Tantra in a sense that if you want to be unstoppable in growth, if you want nothing to control you then you must have a solid base which leads you to a transformation into that powerful personality. It can be understood in this way too.

So Shiva and his Mahakal swaroop along with Kali are the forces within us that make us function properly. Without Shakti, there is no life, we would be Shava (corpse) and without Shiva, there is no stability, we’ll be wild and crazy. For functioning, Energy is needed but to hold that energy, consciousness is needed. That's the play of consciousness and energy that together make things happen properly.

Jai Mahakal 🙏 Jai Mahakali 🙏

Why did the goddess Kali appear before Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa?

 Because of the great deeds of his past life. Great Karmas of past life lead him towards true and immense devotion to Maa Kali.

When he was appointed as priest in Maa Kali temple, he always used to think about Maa Kali. He always used to sing songs for his mother. In front of the idol of Maa Kali, he used to say - O Maa, Am i a very bad son? Why don't you give darshan to me?

Then he firmly decided to have darshan of Maa Kali. Ramakrishna ji did severe penance for 6 years and due to less sleep his eyes were always red, day and night he remembered only and only mother, but even after trying so hard , he did not get darshan of Maa Kali, due to which he was extremely pertubed.

Then, in anguish he went infront of Maa's idol and spoke to idol that if she doesn't come to give her darshan , he would end his life at that moment only. Then, seeing a sword placed in a close by room withinside the temple of Maa Kali, he ran towards it to end his life. And guess what happened?

Just before that sword was caught, the doors of the temple , walls of the temple , idol of maa kali , and the floor on which he was standing ( literally everything ) completely disappeared, as if there was nothing.

Then, he saw the huge waves of ​​light coming from all the directions which was giving him the ultimate thrill and then Maa Kali appeared before her son. He was completely overwhelmed by this experience and his happiness was on another level, he finally got the darshan of his dear mother which he desperately wanted and was blessed forever.

• Without Maa Kali's wish, one cannot be as devoted to her as Ramakrishna was.
• Same is the case with Parmeshwar Shiv. They themselves choose their top devotees to whom they wish to give Kaivalya/Nirvana [ The Ultimate Moksha mentioned by Sri Ram in Muktika Upanishad ]
• Since Ramkrishna was a pure soul (free from lust, jealousy and hatred, obviously due to Maa’s grace) and his bhakti was on another level , he had the privilege of having direct darshan of Maa Kali.
• Maa Parvati/Kali/Lalita Tripura Sundari can be seen only by rishis (who try to fight their inner enemies like lust, greed, anger without any reason, jealousy etc.).

Such intelligent pure souls ( like Ramkrishna Paramhansa , Adi Sankaracharya , Ramana Maharishi , Goswami Tulsidas etc ) never abused any deity ( who was not their Aradhya ) in their lifetime. They never said pilgrimage related to other gods is sinful or Lord Shiva/Vishnu inferior than "deities like Vayu or Indra" because they were true scholars and gentlemen.

Unfortunately, in this Kali Yuga, such great personalities are/were abused a lot by diskCONites and andh-bhakts of a hateful cultist Madhvacharya who abused Shiv-Sakti badly ( Example : Sheshnaag or Tulsi or Vayu > Maa Durga , Maa Laxmi will kill Parmeshwar Shiv, Vayu > Parmeshwar Shiv , Parmeshwar Shiv is a sinner, Kedarnath pilgrimage is a sin etc).