Bhadrakali

Bhadrakāli (Malayalam: ഭദ്രകാളി, Sanskrit: भद्रकाली), is one of the forms of the Supreme Deity mentioned in Devi Mahatmyam. Bhadra in Sanskrit means blessed, auspicious; fair, beautiful; good; fortunate, prosperous.
Bhadrakali is the popular form of Devi worshiped in Kerala. In Kerala she is considered the auspicious and fortunate form of Kali.
She is generally considered the consort of Shiva in the form of Rudra. But there is also a story that she is the consort of Virabhadra, who was himself born of the wrath of Rudra .
According to Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata, she came into being by Devi's wrath, when Daksha insulted Shiva, during the great Ashvamedha Yagna (Horse-sacrifice) .
According to Tantra Rahasya, she arose from the North (Uttaramnaya) face (Amnayas) of Shiva, which is blue in color and with three eyes.
It is believed that Bhadrakāli was a local deity that was assimilated into the mainstream Hinduism, particularly into Shaiva mythology. She is represented with three eyes, and four, twelve or eighteen hands. She carries a number of weapons, with flames flowing from her head, and a small tusk protruding from her mouth.
Some communities like the Kodavas and Nairs worship this deity. They worship certain weapons at their temples which they believe to be the weapons used by the goddess Bhadrakali.

Posted by preeti on 10/08/2010 05:45:00 PM. Filed under Navratri . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0