Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Kali
The concluding scheme names Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma as aspects of Ishvara, accompanied by their Shaktis or energies. It distinguishes Shakta worship, in which Devi is regarded as supreme, from other sectarian standpoints. Kali appears among the names of Devi, the Shakti of Shiva, together with Sati, Uma, Durga, Chandi and Parvati. The source emphasises the Mother’s worshippers speaking of the divine as She.
Also known as Kālī · The Mother
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalThe concluding scheme names Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma as aspects of Ishvara, accompanied by their Shaktis or energies. It distinguishes Shakta worship, in which Devi is regarded as supreme, from other sectarian standpoints.
Further detail
TraditionalKali appears among the names of Devi, the Shakti of Shiva, together with Sati, Uma, Durga, Chandi and Parvati. The source emphasises the Mother’s worshippers speaking of the divine as She.
Context & interpretation
This entry is deliberately limited to the collection’s concluding theological account and Kali plate. It does not claim to survey all Kali traditions, rituals or iconography. The scheme is the authors’ historical synthesis rather than a definitive statement for every Hindu community.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
the Shaktas, who worship Devi as the SupremeOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 469
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0469
- Original scan leaf
- 469
- Recorded leaf number
- 469
- Current Reader position
- 460
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
Sati, Uma, Durga, Chandi, ParvatI, KaliOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 470
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0470
- Original scan leaf
- 470
- Recorded leaf number
- 470
- Current Reader position
- 461
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
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The twin divine physicians whose gift of youth earns a place in the gods’ offerings.
Same subject and traditionBalarama
Krishna’s brother, associated in the collection with the serpent Shesha.
Same subject and traditionBrahma
The creative aspect of the divine, distinct in the collection from the absolute Brahman.
Same subject and traditionGanesha
The elephant-headed figure of success, wisdom and the removal of obstacles.