Kali is a major antagonist of the religion called Hinduism and a demon from Hindu mythology who is described as a being of great power and (in some sources) the origin of evil itself. His reign is described in texts such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, where it is foretold that the degradation during the Kali Yuga will eventually lead to the appearance of the final avatar of Vishnu, Kalki, who will restore dharma and bring about the end of this age, paving the way for the renewal of the cosmic cycle.
He has also incarnated as prominent monsters, such as Ravana, and is similar to Kroni, who can be considered his Ayyavazhi mythological counterpart.
Despite sharing the same name, Kali is not the same entity as the fearsome goddess Kali, who, while vicious, is a divine being much greater than him, and ultimately promotes good. The demon Kali promotes only chaos and destruction, a vile abomination without any of goddess Kali's more positive ideals.
The demon Kali has two wives, Durukti and Alakshmi, who represent slander and discord. Through Durukti, he has two children, Bhayanak (fear) and Mrityu (death), and they also produced more demons known as Naraka (Hell) and Yatana (torture).
To differentiate him from the goddess Kali, in modern times the demon Kali is known as Kalipurush, "Kali the being", while the goddess Kali is also known as Kali Ma, "Mother Kali".
Biography[]
The Kali Yuga.
Kali symbolizes everything that is unholy, the destruction of balance, peace and life itself. Kali is the ruler of the most corrupt and violent of the Hindu cycles, in which mankind abandons the gods, and morality is replaced with open hostility and depravity. This cycle is known as the Kali Yuga, named after its infernal nature and the demon which oversees such evil.
Kali Yuga[]
The Kali Yuga, also known as the "Age of Darkness" or the "Age of Vice," is marked by the deterioration of dharma (righteousness) and the rise of adharma (unrighteousness). According to Hindu cosmology, it is the current age in which we live, and it is distinguished by conflict, materialism, and spiritual ignorance. The arrival of Kali Yuga signifies a time when human virtues diminish, societal structures weaken, and spiritual practices decline. When life becomes intolerable for good people and mankind is entirely under Kali's chaotic power, it is prophesied that Kalki shall be born and take arms against Kali and his many minions, becoming the "divine chastiser" who shall punish the wicked men who thrive in the Kali Yuga at the cost of others. He shall also do battle with Kali personally and slay the monster to free the universe from Kali's cruel rule and re-establish order. This allows the coming of the Satya Yuga, a golden age where mankind is said to learn from the gods and prosper for many centuries before inevitably becoming slowly corrupt again, as is the nature of the infinite cycle that makes up Hindu cosmology.
Gallery[]
