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Discover the origin story of Krishnakali, a manifestation of Goddess Kali as Krishna. Rooted in Bengal's traditions, this form beautifully merges the spiritual paths of Vaishnavism and Shaktism into a harmonious unity.
Characters in the story:
Lord Krishna: Lord Krishna is one of the most popular and revered deities in Hinduism. He is worshiped as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and is known for his divine teachings in the Bhagavad Gita and for his role in the epic Mahabharata.
Goddess Kali: Goddess Kali is a goddess known for her fierce form and association with destruction, time, and the power of femininity. She is often depicted with a dark complexion, multiple arms, and a necklace of skulls.
Radha: Radha, also called Radhika and Radharani, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the feminine counterpart and internal potency (hladini shakti) of Krishna.
In the legends and folk tales of Bengal, there is a beautiful story about Krishna and Radha that showcases Krishna’s cleverness and love for her. According to the tale, every night Krishna would play his flute in the forests of Braj. The sweet melody would call to Radha, and she would quietly leave her house to meet him.
Radha’s husband, Ayan (also called Abhimanyu), was unaware of this. However, Radha’s sisters-in-law (Ayan’s sisters), Jatila and Kutila, grew suspicious. They informed Ayan that Radha was sneaking out every night. Angry and determined to catch her, Ayan decided to follow her one night.
Krishna, being all-knowing, understood what was happening. He quickly devised a plan to protect Radha. On the night Ayan planned to come to the forest to catch her red-handed, Krishna asked Radha to gather some wildflowers and fruits and pretend she was performing a worship ritual. Radha trusted Krishna and followed his instructions exactly.
Krishna then took on the form of Kali, Ayan’s family goddess. When Ayan arrived in the forest, ready to confront Radha, he was taken aback. Instead of finding her with someone, he saw her sitting peacefully, worshipping Kali. Ayan felt proud and happy that Radha was so devoted to their goddess.
Without questioning her further, he left the forest. In this way, Krishna’s clever trick turned a potentially dangerous situation into one of peace and devotion, once again demonstrating how deeply he cared for Radha.
Tantrik Interpretations
The Tantrik texts of Bengal share fascinating stories about the deep connection between Krishna and the goddess Kali. These stories highlight their unity and how they represent both masculine and feminine divine energies.
In the Tantrarajatantra, a text that praises the goddess Lalita, it is said that Lalita enchanted men and, to enchant women, took the form of Krishna. Another Bengali text, the Kalivilasa Tantra, tells how Krishna was born as the son of a golden-skinned Devi. However, his skin turned black when he was stirred by passion, symbolizing the connection between his divine nature and human emotions.
The Brhadyoni Tantra offers a striking story about Krishna’s connection to Kali. It describes how Kali descended to Earth and placed her yoni (a symbol of divine femininity) in the eye of a peacock’s tail feather before incarnating as Krishna in the womb of his earthly mother, Devaki. Later, during his divine play with Radha and the Gopis, Krishna noticed the yoni symbol in the peacock’s feathers. He plucked one feather and placed it on his head as a reminder of his connection to the divine feminine. This act symbolizes the union of feminine and masculine energies and the quest for inner balance.
Just as Hari Hara Murti represents the unity of Shiva and Vishnu, the form of Krishna and Kali symbolizes a similar divine oneness. This unity might have emerged for various reasons: the blending of Vaishnavism and Shaktism, their visual similarities, or the incorporation of Kali into Vaishnava traditions and Krishna into Shakti worship. Whatever the reason, the idea of Krishna-Kali as one form beautifully reflects the harmony of divine energies and the balance of opposites in the universe.
