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Home , Bhairavi, Chamunda, Chandi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Kalaratri

Orissa Review * October - 2004

Goddess in Orissan Art : With Special Reference to Shyamakali at

Santosh Kumar Rath

In the history of religion mother worship Among these Kali is the first occupied a prominent place. The antiquity of and most important . Literally Kali mother worship in dates back to means "Dark-complexioned One". According Harappan . The discovery of to Mahabhagavata Purana, Kali as a Mahavidya originated from the fury of several terracotta female divinities testifies this 2 to terrify Lord Siva. According to fact. The also gave priority to the 3 Saktisangama , the are worship of mother goddesses. Later on during linked with ten . In this way Kali is historical period Devi worship got wide linked with ' '. Kali is also acclamation due to the patronage of liberal known as Devi or . kings. They used to build several temples for worship of the supreme goddesses like Legend has it, that after her fight with Mahisasura, Devi became extremely and Durga. In course of many Sakta rituals angry and took the ferocious dark and festivals have been created for the spread complexioned form, assumed short height and of Saktism. Later on many religious texts based began to walk on the ground. This form of Devi on or Devi were written during medieval came to be known as Kali. With lolling out period. Till today Devi worship continues in tongue, she started dancing blindly. The full swing during Dassehra Festival held in and people in extreme fear appealed Siva for the month of October. help. Lord Siva realising the gravity of the situation lay himself down on the way on Among the several manifestations of the which the ferocious naked Kali was coming. supreme goddesses, her ten terrifying forms are In her blind fury the Devi could not see him popularly called Dasamahavidya. These ten and stepped on his chest. On the very moment forms are very popular since medieval period Siva's linga became erect and entered Kali's and also in modern age. The Dasamahavidya body. At that time Kali recognised her husband are Kali, , Sodasi, Bhubanesvari, Lord Siva and pulled out her tongue in shame. , , , Kamala, This description of Kali engaged in reverse and Vagalamukhi. Thus mentioned copulation with Lord Siva became very in Tantra. popular in texts and iconography. According to these texts her Dhyanas have been created. Kali Tara Mahavidya Sodasi Bhubanesvari The above mentioned description confirms the Bhairavi Chhinamastacha Matangi / 1 iconography of Daksina Kali which is very Dhumavati cha Vagala Mahavidyah Prakirtitah// popular.

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Antiquity of Kali day of 'Dipavali'. Her Vija- is krim. It Kali is regarded as one of the famous is to be noted that is a special deities in India. The earliest reference of Kali feature during the worship of Kali. The present 4 can be found in the Mundak Upanishad. form of Kali worship is mainly based upon three texts namely Kali Tantra, Tantrasara and "Kali karalika manojabhaca sulohitaya ca Shyamarahasya. sudhumra sphulingini visvarupa ca Various Forms of Kali Devi lolayamanaiti saptajihva". The Vedic literature associates Kali with Devi Kali's position was raised to a another ferocious goddess Nirtti as both of greater height by seveal Tantra Sastras. According to Tulaja Tantra, Devi's well them are dark complexioned. But during post- 11 Nirtti lost her popularity and Kali known forms are eight, such as Daksina Kali, 5 rose to prominence. According to scholars Kali, Guhya Kali, Sri Kali, Kali, Kali is the later form of Vedic goddess Nirtti. Chamunda Kali, Smasana Kali and . The great epic also depicts about The Mahakali give the names of nine Kali. Goddess Chamunda is referred as Kali , such as - Daksina Kali, Bhadra Kali, 6 in the famous Durgasaptasati. It is to note that Smasana Kali, Kalakali, Guhya Kali, earlier in Kali was not regarded as Kamakali, Dhana Kali, Kali. The text Tantraloka written by mentions an important deity, but later on she is 12 considered as a form of Durga. In Purana about thirteen forms , such as : Kalisri Kali, and Purana, Kali is described as the Samhara Kali, Kali, Rakta Kali, Sukali, furious aspect of Durga and worshipped for Kali, Mrityu Kali, or Bhadra Kali wining wars. It is also described that she (concert of ), Paramaraka Kali, resides in the cremation ground wearing a Martanda Kali, Kalagni Rudra Kali, Mahakali, garland to skulls. Jadabharata worshipped Kali and Mahabhairavaghorachanda Kali. The nine forms of Kali are described in the Tantrasara as the of the bandits. The famous 13 text Silapadhikaranam of South India has and Agamatatvavilasa of Raghunatha are as described her as the goddess of follows : Daksina Kali, Maha Kali, Smasana 7 worshipped by the bandits. The Kinasariya Kali, Guhya Kali, , Chamunda Kali, Stone Inscription of Cacca dated 999 A.D. Kali, Kali and Kamakala Kali. 8 referred about Kali in her terrific form. In the Kali in Orissan Art Oriya written by Balaram Das in Though Kali is regarded as an important the 15th c. A.D. vivid description about Kali 9 deity in Sakta pantheon, but her images came occurs. In Shyamasaparyavidhi written by into existence only from 15th c. A.D. onwards Kasinath in the year 1699 A.D., the first 10 when Dasamahavidya worship gained reference of Kali worship occurred. popularity. Kali images are less depicted in Kali worship is prevalent in whole India temple walls in comparision to Mahisamardini but it is very popular in eastern part (mostly in images. It is noteworthy that after the and coastal Orissa), next to the worship completion of deplastering work of of Durga. She is worshipped both at home in temple at Puri, an image of Kali came to 14 her benevolent aspect and in shrines with limelight. She serves as an Avarana-. tantric rituals. Besides daily worship at shrines The image is carved on the western side on Goddess Kali is specially worshipped on the the south-west corner in the upper Angasikhara

28 Orissa Review * October - 2004 of the . The image is partially eroded. Another image is found at the base of the back Here goddess Kali is seen standing in Rahapaga of the Baliharachandi temple near Pratyalidha pose. She has dishevelled hair Puri. Here Kali holds a . She holds a and wears a garland of skull. She holds a skull and a severed head by her left hands. She and an indistinct object (possibly stands in Alidha pose on the body of Lord Siva severed human head) in her right and left hands who is Urdhvalinga. Images of Kali as Parsva- respectively. Her image is flanked by devata are found in places like Palur in Ganjam attendants. Perhaps this is the earliest Kali district, Bhagavati temple at Sonepur, in the image as an Avarana devata in Orissan temple. Jagamohana of Samalai temple at Sonepur, Another image is located in the premises of Bausani temple in Phulbani district, Dhavalesvara Siva temple near . Here Daksinachandi temple at Kantilo etc. Devi is seated in Lalita pose on a lotus under Goddess Kali as a presiding deity can which a corpse can be seen. In her principal be seen in several shrines of Orissa. In the right hand she holds a rosary and holds a sword compound of Kosalesvara temple at by her uplifted back hand. Her right middle Badakanjia in Puri district a two-armed image arm as well as all the left arms are broken. of Kali is worshipped as Rudrani. She is seen She wears a Kirita-mukuta and posseses a seated in Lalita pose on a corpse. She holds a . In later examples when Kali images sword over her head by her right hand while 17 are standardised, many new things are added. her left hand holds a severed head. She wears A four-armed Kali image can be noticed in an a garland of skull. On stylistic ground this exterior niche of the Samalai temple at image belongs to 16th/17th c.A.D. Another Sonepur. Here Kali is depicted in dancing pose image is located near the Lankesvari temple at on a corpse. She holds a Kartri and a sword Junagarh, who is known as Bhubanesvari. She by her right hands while she holds a posseses four hands and is seen dancing on a 15 by her uplifted back right hand. She has placed corpse. She holds a severed head and a sword her left hand in the neck of a standing figure, in her lower right and uplifted hands while her other corresponding hands hold a noose and a who is Urdhvalinga. She possesses 18 dishevelled hair and wears Patra-kundala. skull. One rare image of Devi is noticed in a small temple at Laksminarayanpur in Cuttack As a Parsva-devata, the images of Kali district. She posseses four-arms and stands on appeared from 10th c.A.D. onwards. For Lord Siva's body. She displays Abhayamudra example the image of Kali as a Parsva-devata and Varadamudra by her uplifted right and appear on the ruined Bhimesvari temple at lower hands, while she holds a sword (now Pedagadi, dated to late 10th c.A.D. In the not in situ) and a severed head by her uplifted 19 compound of Samalai temple at Sambalpur a left hand and lower hand respectively. In the rare example of eight handed Kali can be temple at Kakatpur, Kali is seen noticed. She is seen seated in standing in Alidha pose on the prostrate body Vajraparyankasana on a lotus pedestal. Her of Siva. Devi's right hands show Varada and front right and left hands hold a mace and a Abhaya murdras while her left hands displays small pot while her other right hands are seen a sword and severed head. She also wears a 20 holding a rosary, and a sword. The skull garland. The prostrate body of Siva is remaining left hands hold a skull filled with depicted with Urdvalinga pose here. The above severed human head, an indistinct object and a 16 description confirms the Dhyana of Daksina shield. She posseses dishevelled hair. Kali.

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Goddess Kali is also depicted in the goddess. There is a good approach road to this on cloth, interior wall paintings temple which connects the major road (locally and in ritual murals. Specially in Ganjam known as "Uansa danda") which runs from district paintings of Kali can be seen in Lion's gate to the sea. Osakothi festival. It is interesting to note that From a text known as Kali Archana in a painting at Banesvaranasi, Kali stands on Chandrika, it is known that during the reign of the bank of a river in the mountain landscape. Gajapati Kapilendra Dev, Shyamakali was 22 She holds a scimistar and severed heads in her worshipped under a Vakula tree. With the left hands while she displays Varadamudra in gradual march of time a secondary royal palace her right hand. Her uplifted right hand shows a 21 was built near that place by the Gajapati kings, trident. She is yellow coloured. Another of which little remains now. After Kapilendra interesting painting from the inner wall of the Dev, his son Purusottama Dev became king. Mandapa of Raghunath Jew temple at Cuttack His Rajaguru Trilochana Dev and his wife depicts sacrificing Ahi , the Ratnavati were great devotees of Shyamakali. son of Ravana born in Patala, before goddess In the year 1599 A.D. Madhusingh, the brother Kali. Here she is depicted with her usual of Mughal General Mansingh built the temple 23 attributes. Besides these other paintings of Kali of Shyamakali. During the Muslim invasion are noticed at Dadhivamana temple at Koilo all the royal ceremonies were observed in the near Salepur (), Paschimesvara temple of Shyamakali. Till 1599 A.D., all the temple at Talcher and in some temples at Puri. rituals were performed according to the text Among the moving deities of Kali made Durgotsava Chandrika. But afterwards Kali of metal, mention may be made of an image in Archana Chandrika gained importance in the the Narayani temple at Paradipgarh. Another rituals of Shyamakali. During the first quarter example of this type of image can be noticed of 18th c.A.D. the Rajaguru of king in the Sambalpur University Museum. These Ramachandra Dev- II, Paramalaksmi Rajaguru images are either the above mentioned Parsva- used to worship Shyamakali with tantric rituals. and presiding deities. In the beginning of 19th c.A.D. the famous freedom fighter Jayi Rajaguru was also a great Goddess Shyamakali at Puri devotee of Shyamakali. Goddess Shyamakali Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, which is the tutelary deity of Gajapati kings. Till is celebrated as a Vaisnava centre is also today, according to the royal custom, the new famous for its Sakta temples. Both inside and king after his coronation, first visits this temple outside the premises of famous Jagannath and worship Kali. Now-a-days little remains temple there are several temples dedicated to of the said palace (earlier known as Puruna Sakta divinities such as Vimala, Laksmi, Nahara/Bali Nahara) are left. But other temples Bhubanesvari, Harachandi, Daksina Kali, like Astasambhu and Radhakrishna alongwith Shyamakali, etc. which indicates the popularity Shyamakali temple stands testimony to the of Saktism at Puri. There is a temple dedicated royal grandeur of the then age. to goddess Kali at Bali Sahi. Perhaps it is the The iconography of Shyamakali confirms earliest shrine where Kali (locally known as the Dhyana of Daksina Kali prescribed in the Shyamakali) is the presiding deity. The area Sastras. Here Kali stands in Pratyalidha pose where the temple is located is named as on the chest of Lord Siva and posseses four "Shyamakali Lane" after the name of the hands. She is engaged here in reverse

30 Orissa Review * October - 2004 cohabitation with Lord Siva. She holds a sword 2. Das, H.C., Iconography of Sakta Divinities, and displays Abhaya- in her upper left Vol.I, p.13, , 1997. and right hands respectively while her lower 3. Bhattacharya, B, (Ed), Saktisangama Tantra, left hand is holding a severed human head and Vol.III, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1947. the lower right displays Varada-mudra. In this 4. Das, op.cit, p.16. context it is noteworthy that her benevolent 5. Ibid. aspect is attested by holding of the sword in 6. Bhattacharya, N.N., The History of Sakta her left hand. Because the sword in right hand Religion, p.136, New Delhi, 1974. symbolises destruction. She posseses three eyes 7. Das, op.cit, p.18. and is surrounded by jackeles and vultures 8. Epigraphia Indica, Vol.XII, p.59. carved on the side. The height of the image is 24 9. Das, op.cit, p.18. around four feet. From artistic point of view 10. Chakravarty, Chintaharana, The : this image belongs to 15th c.A.D. Studies on their Religion and Literature, p.92, There are other two images installed on Calcutta, 1963. the left side of Shyamakali. These images are 11. Das, op cit, p.19. four-handed and known as Vimala and 12. Bhattacharya, op.cit., p.13. Sarbamangala. Same ascribe them as Chandika. 13. Ibid. Like the famous Vimala image of Jagannath 14. Orissa Review, p.52, , July 1996. temple, this icon of Vimala is seen standing 15. Donaldson, T.E, Tantra and Sakta Art of and holding a noose, a human figure and a vase. Orissa, Vol.II, p.546, New Delhi, 2002. Likewise the seated image of Mangala holds a 16. Donaldson, op.cit, p.543. full moon, rosary and lotus. The significant 17. Donaldson, op.cit, p.539. aspect of this image is that she holds a pestle 25 18. Ibid. in her upper left hand. 19. Donaldson, op.cit, p.540. Thus it is inferred from the above 20. Ibid. discussion that Kali has occupied a prominent 21. Donaldson, op. cit, p.545. place in Sakta pantheon. But most of her 22. Rathasharma, , Smarta Pradhanyara images came into existance from 15th century Kendra Shyamakali O Balinaara, (Oriya), onwards. Among the different forms of the p.16 in the Souvenir Saktapramoda, Puri. Devi, the Daksina Kali aspect is the most 23. Rathsharma, op. cit, p.19. popular both in texts and iconography. Most of 24. Das, H.C., Sakta Pithas : A Study, p.117, the Kali images including Shyamakali image Bhubaneswar, 1999. at Puri confirms the Dhyana of Daksina Kali. 25. Bahinipati, , Maa Shyamakali (Oriya) Being the tutelary deity of the Gajapati kings in Odisara Devadevi, Second Edition, Vol.I, of Puri, Shyamakali ranked one among the p.168, Cuttack, 1983. famous goddesses of Puri. From iconographic point of view, her image is the only of its kind in entire Orissa. References : 1. Quoted by Puspendra Kumar, Sakti Cult in Santosh Kumar Rath lives at "Smruti Sadan", Shyamakali Ancient India, p.155, , 1974. Lane, Bali Sahi, Puri-1.

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