The Goddess Kali is the guardian, also known as Kalika. The protectors, the Mother, Kali is Dharma and eternal time. Kali shines with the brilliance of a million black fires of dissolution and her body is bathed in the sacred ash. Kali is revered as Bhavtirine i.e the redeemer of the universe. Kali is the Goddess of time and change. Kali is Adi Mahavidya, the primary Mahavidya. She is the first and the foremost among the Mahavidyas. Even before the Mahavidya cult came into being, she was a major goddess with large following of devotees immersed in her mythologies, hymns and songs. She is not only the first but the most important of the Mahavidyas. It is said, the Mahavidya tradition is centered on Kali and her attributes. Kali is the epitome of the Mahavidyas. As per regular requests of sadhaks some useful links to various sadhnas of Mahakali is posted for their benefits.
Kali is Black goddess, Shamshana Kali, Mahakali, Nitya Kali, Shyama Kali, Bhadra Kali, Ugra Chandi, Siddeshwari and Kalratri. The Kali Ashtakam has the power to provide you the grace of Mahakali as been observed by many sadhaks. Regular practicing the Kali Ashtakam will definitely provide you all the material comfort and would remove any difficulties in life.
Sri Kalika Ashtakam Lyrics in English:
Dhyanam
Galadha Raktha mukthavali kantha mala,
Maha gora raava, sudamshtra karala ,
Vivasthra smasanalaya mukthakesi,
Maha kala-kamakulaa kalikeyam. || 1 ||
Bhuje vama yugme siro asi dhadhaana,
Varam Daksha yugmebhyam vai thadaiva,
Sumadhya api thunga sthana bhara namra,
Lasad Raktha srukka dhwaya susmithasya. || 2 ||
Sava dwandhwa karnavathasaa sukesi,
Lasad pretha pani prayukthaika Kanchi,
Savaakara –manchathirooda shivaabhi-,
Schadhir dikshu shabdhayamanabhireje. || 3 ||
Viranchyadhi devasthrayasthe gunaamsthreen,
Samaradhya Kali!Pradhaana bhabhuva,
Anadhim suradhim makhadim bhavadhim,
Swaroopam thwadheeyam na vindanthi devaa. || 4 ||
Jaganmohaneeyam thu vagvadheneeyam,
Suhrut poshinim shathru samharaneeyam,
Vacha sthambaneeyam kimu uchataneeyam,
Swaroopam thwadeeyam na vindanthi devaa. || 5 ||
Iyam swarga dathri puna kalpavalli,
Manojasthu kaamaan yadartha prakuryath,
Kadha they kruthartha bhavatheethi nithyam,
Swaroopam thwadeeyam na vindanthi devaa. || 6 ||
Surapanamathe!Subhakthanurakathe!,
Lasad pootha chithe!Yadha aavirbhavasthe!
Japa-dhyana-pooja sudha dhoutha pankha,
Swaroopam thwadeeyam na vindanthi devaa. || 7 ||
Chidhananda –kandham hasan mandha mandham,
Sarachandrakoti-prabha punja bimbham,
Muneenaam kavinaam hrudhi dhyotha manam,
Swaroopam thwadeeyam na vindanthi devaa. || 8 ||
Maha- megha- kali , surakthabhi shubra,
Kadachith vichithraakruthir yoga maya,
Na bala na Vrudha na kamathuraapi,
Swaroopam thwadeeyam na vindanthi devaa. || 9 ||
Kshamaswa aparadham maha guptha bhavam,
Maya loka madhye prakasikrutham yath,
Thwa dhyanapoothena chapalya bhavath,
Swaroopam thwadeeyam na vindanthi devaa. || 10 ||
Phalasruthi
Yadhi dhyana yuktha pateth yo manushyasthadha sarva loke vishalo bhavecha,
Gruhe cha ashta sidhirmruthe chapi mukthi swaroopam thwadheeyam na vindanthi devaa.
|| Kaalikashtakam Sampoornam ||
Sri Kalika Ashtakam Meaning in English:
Wearing a garland of skulls drenched with blood,
Having a fearful form, black in colour with externally projecting teeth,
She is nude and lives in cremation ground with fully untied hair,
And she is Kali busy in love play with the great Lord Shiva.
Carrying cut heads as well as sword in her two left hands,
Symbols of blessing and protection in her right hands,
Having a lion like middle and bent because of heavy breasts,
And with shining blood drenched lips but smiling prettily.
Wearing ornaments of made of corpses in her two ears , having a very good hair, Wearing shining armlets made of corpses and also girdles
Sitting on a seat of corpses and she shines ,
Making very fearful sound rocking all four directions.
The holy trinity are depending on your three qualities,
And are engaged in worshipping you as Kali,
You have a form which is primeval, first among devas ,
Prime of all fire sacrifices and root cause of the world,
And even the Devas do not understand you.
You attract the entire world and are also worshipped by the Goddess of learning,
You are taking care of devotees and are destroyer of your enemies,
You can completely benumb any voice and what can be chanted about you,
And even the devas do not understand you.
You are the one who grants heaven and also the wish giving tree.
You fulfill the desires of mind in the real realized form,
And all those who benefit by you , would become grateful to you,
And even the devas do not understand you.
You are intoxicated with alcohol, You love your real devotees,
And you are born in the hearts of your loving devotees,
And your form is of the nectar like wings of chant ,meditation and worship,
And even the devas do not understand you.
You have a form of divine joy and smile slowly , slowly,
You shine like the globe of billions of moons,
And you make the minds of sages and poets shine,
And even the devas do not understand you.
Sometimes you are black like a clouds ,
Sometimes you are of the pure colour of blood,
Sometimes you are the yogic illusion which has peculiar forms,
You are neither a lass nor a old woman nor one who is intensely passionate,
And even the devas do not understand you.
Please pardon me for describing, the very secret form of yours,
In the middle of the people of the entire world,
Please pardon this very unstable conduct of mine,
And even the devas do not understand you.
Phalasruthi
That man who reads this meditating on you ,
Would become a great one in this entire world,
And even in his home he would become an expert on the eight occult powers,
And even the devas do not understand you