This lustrous wall hanging, a brass plaque cast with an ornament like fine details as the brass like hard and uncompromising medium would yield with great difficulty, revealing rare beauty and charging the ambience with spiritual fervour, represents goddess Kali. The image of the goddess has been conceived as a wall hanging. The brass-piece is both, a ritual image as well as an art object. When the space to adorn or to sanctify is the lintel or the face of an entrance, or its side planks, or when it is a space insufficient to accommodate a full image, a deity-plaque is the best option for adorning it. Aesthetically cast it beautifies a space, and by representing the most powerful divinity of Indian pantheon it spiritualizes the ambience with its divine aura. Similarly cast papier-mâché plaques of the goddess flood the markets in Bengal, as also other parts of thecountry, during Durga-puja festival. In Bengal one cannot find even the humblest of a hut without an image of Kali and to a larger part of populace a plaque is her most preferred form. From a clay-cast – the humblest, to a gold pendant – the richest, one can find such deity icons in an affordable medium.

The representation is typical to the Bengal cult that perceives Kali as Durga. It conceives the goddess with the same luminous fair-complexioned image – cast in a metal or produced in colours, as has Durga; however, for representing Kali in her own form as it enshrines other traditions of Kali imagery the artist has shaded with black tint the face of the goddess though he seems to have taken extra care to ensure that its lustre is least affected. Though the use of the black dye is just symbolic, a fine artistic manipulation this bit of lampblack like shade rubbed on the luminous face of the image has only further beautified it, perhaps by minimizing its extra lustre. A symbolic icon : a partially revealed face, the forehead covered under the crown, and the neck, behind a necklace, the brass-piece, besides representing the great goddess in her two manifestations Durga and Kali, also represents with utmost thrust two most venerated art traditions of Bengal, one, the classical tradition of Pala bronzes, and the other, the Kalighat tradition of Kali images.  While in its finesse, precise details, technical maturity and perfect execution, rare finish, delicately worked image and its overall quality it pursues the timeless idiom of Pala bronzes of early medieval centuries, in the adornment of the goddess that with its far greater proportion and emphasis dominates the image it pursues the folk line of the 19th century Kalighat art idiom still live in all forms of art in Bengal. Unlike other folk art styles the folk element in Kalighat tradition is extremely decorative, observes geometric accuracy and produces rare aesthetic effect. The face of the goddess : the lower half, angular, and the upper, a semi-circle, prominent cheeks, eyes and eyebrows, raised upwards slanting at hundred twenty\ degree angle, and large awe-inspiring eye-balls, heavy lips and bold nose-ring, is typical to Kalighat folk style. The multi-tiered form of the crown with a temple-top that adorns the deity-image has almost rigidified in Kalighat style of the image of the goddess. Though incised with minute details and highly decorative in character the style of flowers, consisting of four leaves, not petals a flower usually consists of, the crown’s other sections, locks of hair and ear-ornaments all consisting of leaves or ferns are typical of Kalighat folk style.

Embracing the Divine Feminine: Understanding Kali and Her Significance

Goddess Kali is one of the most powerful and revered deities in Hinduism and is worshiped by many people across the globe especially in the eastern part of India. She is considered to be a ferocious form of Goddess Durga and is regarded as the ultimate manifestation of Shakti. Goddess Kali also manifests as the material nature and is regarded as the mother of all living entities in the material world. Just like a caring mother, she protects the living entities who follow the principles of Dharma from demonic persons who always go against the laws of the Supreme Lord.

Having a dark complexion, open hair, and bearing multiple arms holding different weapons, Goddess Kali is often depicted standing on the chest of Lord Shiva, her consort, as she displays her rage toward the demon Raktabij. This pastime is mentioned in various Puranas of Vedic literature in which Goddess Kali severed the head of the demon who was creating havoc on earth. This shows the protective nature of the Goddess. The Vedic scriptures also mention that Goddess Kali is an obedient devotee of the Supreme Lord Krishna or Vishnu who tests living entities on their determination and devotion toward the Lord.

What does Kali symbolize?

Goddess Kali is the manifestation of material nature. She is like a benevolent mother who protects her children from any kind of mishaps and misfortune. Mother Kali considers all living entities her own children and takes care of them. She reforms the forgetful souls who have turned their faces against the Supreme Lord Krishna. Thus, she symbolizes mercy, compassion, and kindness. Although she has a ferocious form, she is actually carrying out the order of the Supreme Lord by utilizing her power against those who blaspheme the Lord and do not abide by His laws.

What is Kali worshiped for?

We can find thousands and lakhs of devotees of Goddess Kali all over the world. She is especially venerated in the festival of Kali Puja in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha. Being a merciful Goddess, she fulfills the desires of her devotees. Some people worship Goddess Kali for some material gains and profits and receive her blessings. However, those who serve her selflessly and approach her to know about the Absolute Truth and the real aim of human life, receive the highest benediction of Goddess Kali. Being a devotee of the Supreme Lord Krishna, she bestows her blessings upon them and guides them to the path of devotion toward the Lord.

Where to place Kali statue at home?

Keeping the deity of Goddess Kali at home is very auspicious. If you worship her regularly with faith and devotion, she will become pleased and will shower her blessings upon you. Knowing that she is worthy of our respectful obeisance is important and therefore, you should not keep or handle her deity with a casual attitude. You must keep the deity on your home altar.

The Fierce and Powerful Goddess Durga: Discovering the Symbolism and Significance

Goddess Durga is a revered deity in Hinduism and she is worshiped by many people in the eastern part of India and also in other countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh. She is considered the mother of this material world who takes care of the conditioned souls trapped in the material existence. She protects them from the demons who threaten peace and establishes Dharma. In the Shakta tradition or Shaktism (those who believe that feminine energy is supreme), Mother Durga has been given the highest position. She is often considered the expansion of Mother Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva who is the destroyer of the material world. The Vaishnavas consider Mother Durga as the external energy of the Supreme Lord Krishna or Vishnu. She takes charge of the material world and reforms those souls who do not abide by the rules of the Supreme Lord.

Mother Durga is often depicted as a young and beautiful woman, wearing a saree, and sitting on a tiger or lion. She has multiple arms (usually ten arms) that hold different items and weapons that express her martial skills. She tramples down the demon Mahishasura, with her trident, representing the subduer of vices.

What does Durga symbolize?

Being the powerful assistant of the Supreme Lord, Mother Durga tests our dedication to the Lord. She represents the material nature and like a loving mother, she gives a clarion call to all forgetful souls to turn their faces towards Lord Krishna, who is the only well-wisher of all living entities. The depiction of her violently killing the demon Mahishasura with her trident shows her extraordinary prowess. Mahishasura represents our demoniac mentality that wants to enjoy separately from the Supreme Lord, forgetting our eternal relationship with Him. Goddess Durga killing the demon symbolizes the victory of good over evil or wisdom over ignorance.

Where are Durga statues made in Kolkata?

The worship of Goddess Durga is prominent in festivals such as Durga Puja, Durga Ashtami, Navaratri, etc. On those days, people gather at a place and a big idol or deity of Goddess Durga is worshiped with faith and devotion. These idols of the Goddess are made in a place called Kumortuli, located near Kolkata, West Bengal. This city is renowned for its beautiful clay sculptures made by local manufacturers.

Can we keep Durga idol at home?

You can keep a Durga deity at your home if you want to attract her mercy into your life. Goddess Durga is very merciful toward her devotees and when pleased, she bestows them with both material and spiritual benefits. Those who approach and worship Goddess Durga with material desires in their hearts, she fulfills them. But if a person genuinely approaches her and prays to her to reveal about the Absolute Truth and the real goal of human life to them, being the superintendent of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, she blesses them with the light of knowledge about the Lord and inspires them to walk the path of devotion to Lord Vishnu.