THE
ORIGIN OF NAME
There
is an interesting anecdote in Kalikapurana narrating about her dark colour. It
is said that when Sati was born in her next birth to Himavan, she was dark
complexioned and was endearingly called Shyama and Kali too by the parents.
After marriage with Maheswar, he once addressed endearingly as Kali in the
presence of gods. Taking it as an insult, she did penance and got a boor to
turn Gauri with her Lord's blessings. She is moreover, Balipriya and
tamasikahari: yet she proved extremely solicitous and immensely generous to her
discriminating devotees, who see in her Adya sakti, the ultimate giver of
liberation from the cycle of births and deaths, when they enjoy infinite bliss
in worshipping her. And they popularised the cult through-song and Upasana that
demonstrate her superhuman powers.
Chandidas,
a devout Sakteya sang in praise of Sri Krishna and his
sports at the instance of Mother Kali. Bengal gradually became a great
Saktipitha, as numerous branches sprang up through out the length and breadth of
the undivided Bengal. In every village, town and city, Kali is worshipped with
unparalleled ardour, and she is held as the chief deity of the Bengal. In the
undivided Bengal different manifestations of Kali such as Tripura Meher Kali,
Vikrampur Sourang Kali, Jayadev Samaskhan Kali, Bagura Kalyaneswar, Birbhumi
Bringapur Kali, Ambika - Durga Mayee, Siddheswari, Maider Kali and Tamluk
Bharghavi, and these are a few among many existing and have been receiving
worship regularly.
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