Kali thangka is hand-painted on Cotton Canvas in Kathmandu, Nepal. Kali is the first of the Das Mahavidya and the fiercest aspect of Goddess Durga. Kali is considered the goddess of time and change.
Kali is presented at the center of the thangka. She presides over the time before the creation of the universe. Kali is represented as the consort of Lord Shiva.
Iconography of Kali
Kali is represented as standing in the battleground with one of her feet on the chest of supine Lord Shiva. Her tongue hangs out of her mouth in astonishment for putting her leg on the chest of Lord Shiva. Her complexion is dark and her facial expressions are ferocious. She is depicted with four hands.
In one of the upper hands, she holds bloody Kripana and in the other upper hand, she holds the severed head of a demon. In one of the lower hands, she holds a bowl in which she collects blood that drips from the demon's severed head in the upper hand. The second lower hand is shown in Varad Mudra.
She is depicted nude and wears a garland that is made of human skulls or severed heads. In the lower body, she wears a girdle made of severed human arms. In some representations, one of the upper hands of kali is shown in Varada Mudra and one of the lower hands holds Trishul.
Mantra of Kali
The mantra of Kali is kring kring kring hing kring dakshine kalike kring kring kring hring hring hung hung swaha.
