Kali Rising: Beyond the Demonization of Divine Femininity
In this thought-provoking episode, take a deep dive into the enigmatic world of Goddess Kali. Chandresh unravels the layers of her fierce image, which is often misunderstood and misrepresented in popular culture. The episode sheds light on the reasons behind the demonization of Kali's image and explores what this reveals about societal views on female power and independence.
This episode is not just a discussion; it's an invitation to reflect on our perceptions of power, femininity, and transformation. Kali Rising encourages listeners to embrace the transformative power of Kali, challenging us to confront our fears and discover our true potential. Whether you're a long-time devotee or newly curious about this formidable goddess, this episode offers fresh perspectives and inspires a deeper understanding of Kali's enduring legacy and power.
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Why has the fierce image of goddess Kali been demonized in popular culture? And what does this say about our relationship with the feminine energy? What's the correct interpretation of Kali's fierceness and her image in the context of empowerment and liberation? In what ways can an individual or seeker tap into Kali's energy to challenge their own limitations or social norms? What if Kali's image, her energy makes you feel overwhelmed, negative, and even scared in this episode? I'm going to talk about all of these questions and much more. The intention is to understand why she has always been branded and popularized as this demon, negative evil force and yet the results of the seekers who meditate tell a different story. I am Chandresh Bhardwaj. And this is the Leela show.
Now, must everyone? I hope you're doing well. I hope you're feeling cozy and easy before I get into this fascinating conversation, I do want to mention I have a free master class happening on Sunday, April 14th. The link is in the show notes, this master class dives into your creativity, your sensuality, your meditation practices, and how you can honor the inner muse. How can you tap into the wisdom, the power that lives beyond the mind?
If you enjoy my podcast, you will love this master class. It's a live class where you can ask questions. We'll chat, we'll meditate together. We'll dive into the ancient wisdom and how it can help us to live a life of freedom and a deeper self-expression. It's happening on Sunday, April 14th. There are no replays available. If you miss this one, then please watch out for the next live free experience that I'll offer.
And now to this episode, this one is personal. I feel I usually have a rough outline and I don't even have a rough outline for this episode. Two experiences triggered the need to talk about this episode. One experience goes back to my childhood where I was this kid who was obsessed with meditation, sadhana, mantra practices, and I had a very selfish and a clear reason to be obsessed.
I have mentioned this before. I was always this shy introvert kid. And after fifth grade, I was shifted into a different school, a much fancier school in India where English speaking was mandatory. I didn't know how to speak English and the kids in this new school were also much more financially, you know, they come from very well-to-do financial families, and I felt such a deep inferiority complex.
But with everyone the way also in that school, you can't get admission like you know, just randomly you get admitted in the first grade and that's it. You can't just go in, in any other grade. And on that particular year there was an opening and I believe it's, you know, dream of every parent, at least the Indian parents, you know, that I know that their child has to get into the best school and they have to get the best grades.
So my parents wanted the same for me when they got to know the this school has this opening. They got me into that school. I joined that school in sixth grade and I lived my nightmares in that school because every day was a struggle. I felt I'm a misfit. I don't belong here. The kids are too fancy. They all come in their own, you know, chef driven cars. And, on the first few days, my grandfather was dropping me on his bicycle.
So I would see this difference, you know, huge difference between the fancy cars and my sweet grandfather, my nana. You know, he's just doing his best to make sure I reach on, on time on school. Then later on I got this auto rickshaw which is like a auto rickshaw is OSHA, I guess, you know, I don't know how else to describe it. It's like a mini taxi scooter kind of thing, you know, very cheap in India also. I know in Thailand they have it anyway.
So that's what I got. But the point is I was loaded with this insecurity and somehow I have no idea who or when or what guided me to get into meditation. And that too, particularly Goddess Kali's meditations. And I started to meditate on Kali energy, Kali consciousness. So I always use the word Kali consciousness, which I'll describe later in this episode, why I relate to her as the consciousness.
I started to meditate on her and something started to happen. I felt much more confident, much more grounded, much more fearless. As a result, my grades started to improve. My confidence started to build up. I had so many friends in school, like I'm not talking about five or 10, I'm talking about twenties, thirties, like friends from different grades, different groups.
And I obviously started enjoying that space. I was seen as one of the confident, strong guys in the class and, you know, as a teenager, what else do you want? And that really became my motivation to continue this sadhana, I didn't know the word back then, but this meditation that I was trying to do. And I was in sixth grade. So my obsession, my dedication, devotion to Kali's meditation only increased over time and it stayed strong for as long as I can remember.
And then I think an extended relative got to know that I meditated on Kali and he sort of interrupted the process. He took me on side and he said, you know, you could meditate, you could do your prayers. But Kali meditations are not for you. She's not a goddess to begin with and you should not be meditating on Goddess Kali. It's going to ruin you. It's going to destroy you. It's going to just stop your growth.
And when I looked around I didn't believe him because what he was telling me and what I was experiencing were two different experiences. He was painting a picture that was extremely dark, evil, scary. What I was experiencing was actually so much more gentle, warm, safer, protective. And here's the funny thing when you are a little kid, you don't know the differences between the religions or culture. The corruption hasn't entered into your system yet.
And I'm glad I stumbled upon Kali's energy at an age where I just didn't know the various variety of belief systems out there. And I was able to experience Kali consciousness in a very uncorrupted, unfiltered way. So, although I didn't believe him, but his narrative stayed in my mind and I saw that narrative playing out in my culture. Many people that I met growing up in India, I noticed they do have a very scary or uncomfortable image of Kali and they do not meditate on her. They don't worship her, they don't pray. even though they could be devoted Hindu, you know, people anyway.
A few years later in 2004, I moved to the US, New York, and I got this opportunity to write a spiritual column in the business newspaper. And that got me connected to professors, students of the college. I got to know them much more closely in a much more vulnerable way. And I noticed Goddess Kali in the Western culture has a very interesting but again, a very heavy demonic image.
Although there is fascination around her because of the way she's portrayed with the skulls and the blood, the garland of skulls and she's standing on Shiva. So there is a lot about her that people find fascinating, but that's where it stops. No one is interested or mildly interested in meditating upon her. But that gave me a motivation to actually pursue the path of studying her understanding who is Goddess Kali, why she's the way she is.
And I was enjoying studying her. And then I had no plans to be a spiritual teacher or the work I do today, no plans at all ever. And when life started to move in a direction where I realized I'm supposedly going to work full-time as a spiritual teacher. I had left my banking job and I was fully stepping into this space of tantra of spirituality, talking about Eastern wisdom traditions, teaching people about mantra meditation practices and so on.
And I wasn't doing so well in my work, students wouldn't show up in my classes or there was not enough movement happening for me to keep doing this work, when people would meet me, they will work with me. I'll get amazing feedback and that would bring in some revenue. But it wasn't enough for me to keep going. And although I wanted to leave this because I also realized the kind of spirituality that is popular that is more mainstream is a very different style of spirituality. And I'm not cut out for that.
So I had full plans of leaving this work altogether. And then somehow this inner voice showed up for me that if I was my own student, if I was my own client, what would I advise to my inner self? What would I advise Tosh? And the answer was you are so passionate about the feminine energy, but you don't talk about it, you get so emotional, so vulnerable when you talk about or think about Kali consciousness, but you never talk about it publicly.
It felt uncomfortable for me to open up publicly about her. And my reasoning was my journey with her. Started in a very vulnerable space. I was a little kid, a lost kid, introvert, someone who didn't have self-confidence, self-compassion, self-trust. And I genuinely believe and feel she brought that in my journey. And to talk about it in an open space, felt too vulnerable, too much exposed emotionally.
But somehow I also felt I got to talk about her because the love I feel when I talk about her seems special and I think I must talk about her. So this was the time when social media was also emerging, you know, the reels, the TikToks didn't exist and Facebook was there but not in a way that we see social media now. So I started opening up about my journey with Goddess Kali and the first thing that I noticed was the pushback.
I was just an emotional wreck, people started to ask so many questions. But what about the skulls? What about the garland? What about the darkness? Aren't you scared of it? Isn't it evil? And I started to get these questions and I would try to explain, educate, clarify. But there was always this lingering feeling that it's such a complex matter that it may never be understood the way it's meant to be understood. And also I don't know how many people are willing to open up to a different experience.
And I started to reflect upon her myself and the personal experiences I had with her, why is there so much fear around her? I began to realize that Kali is a symbol of such raw, untamed, fierce feminine energy that I personally believe in a way represents the energy of that divine feminine that many societies are afraid of.
So I would say the demonization of Kali comes from the inability to understand her fierceness and the fear of the feminine power that she embodies. Her portrayal in mainstream media, popular culture, and even in some religious interpretations often emphasizes her terrifying aspects rather than her role as a protector and liberator.
The demonization of Kali often stems from a lack of understanding and the influence of patriarchal perspectives. In many cultures, especially those with a strong patriarchal structure, the raw and untamed aspects of feminine power are frequently perceived as threatening. Kali's image as a fierce, dark goddess who destroys evil can be unsettling to those who are uncomfortable with the more intense aspects of feminine energy.
Her portrayal in mainstream media, which often emphasizes her terrifying aspects rather than her role as a protector and liberator, contributes to this fear. The garland of skulls, her fearsome countenance, and her association with destruction can be interpreted through a lens of fear rather than reverence, overshadowing her deeper symbolic meanings.
Correct Interpretation of Kali’s Fierceness:
Kali's fierceness should be seen as a manifestation of transformative power. In the context of empowerment and liberation, her energy represents the breaking down of old structures, personal limitations, and societal norms that no longer serve us. Kali's destructive aspect is not about senseless violence but about clearing the way for new growth and transformation.
Her fierceness symbolizes the strength to confront one's fears and the courage to face deep-seated issues head-on. In the realm of personal empowerment, Kali's energy encourages us to challenge our limitations and societal expectations, pushing us towards a more authentic and liberated existence.
To tap into Kali’s energy for personal growth:
Embrace Change: Allow yourself to let go of outdated beliefs and habits. Kali's energy supports transformation by encouraging you to release what no longer serves your higher purpose.
Face Your Fears: Use Kali’s fierce energy to confront and overcome your fears. This may involve addressing internal insecurities or challenging external obstacles that hold you back.
Transform and Rebuild: Embrace the process of destruction and renewal. Recognize that dismantling old structures can create space for new opportunities and personal growth.
Seek Empowerment: Draw strength from Kali's energy to empower yourself. Her fierceness can inspire you to stand up for yourself, pursue your goals with confidence, and embrace your inner power.
So, this is a short, personal episode that I wanted to share with you. Hopefully, you will get an idea of why Kali consciousness is so dear to me and the demonization that surrounds her. I feel many people are missing out on a deeper, transformative experience with her due to these misconceptions.
Thank you for listening, and I hope this episode offers you a new perspective on Goddess Kali and her powerful, transformative energy. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. Your support helps me continue creating content like this. Until next time, take care and stay empowered.
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