Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, sadhana cannot be done without a Guru. Sadhana is impossible without a Guru. The Guru is the one who will show you the path. Will the Guru do everything for you? No, but without a Guru, nothing can be achieved. And this worship... Kali Puja should not be performed at home. It will shatter the house; it will ruin it. If Kali Puja is done at home, that house will soon be destroyed. If it is worshipped according to Tantric rituals, the house won't even last two years—it will be destroyed. Furthermore, any three-eyed Goddess or a Goddess with a protruding tongue should not be worshipped at home.
Host:
Pranam, Gurudev. Pranam to all the viewers, I hope you are doing well and chanting the Harinam. Today, we will discuss the Dasha Mahavidya (The Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses). Gurudev has already introduced this topic, and you have seen one episode where he explained what the Dasha Mahavidya is, why it exists, and how it is applied in Tantra. Today, we will talk about the first Goddess of the Dasha Mahavidya, Maa Kali. I won't speak much on this topic because I am ignorant about it. I will ask Gurudev to speak about Maa Kali. Gurudev, what would you like to say?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
First of all, I must say that Kali is the first and the last Vidya. If Kali is satisfied, all the other Goddesses of the Dasha Mahavidya and all other deities will automatically be satisfied. The word "Kali" means Kaal (Time). She is the one who has kept Time under Her feet. Mahakal (Lord Shiva), who is beyond time, is kept beneath Her feet. It is mentioned in the Puranas that Goddess Durga assumed the form of Kali many times. When Gauri came into the lap of Mahakal, She became Mahakali. This Mahakali is maintaining the entire world; there is no doubt about that. The time that is passing by us, She has stopped it and kept it under Her feet. Mahadev is literally beneath the Mother's feet, and She dances upon Him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is said that Kali once assumed a terrifying form, and no one could stop Her. Seeing this terrifying form, Mahadev realized there was only one way to calm the Mother down. He turned Himself into a tiny infant and lay down on the path She was treading, crying like a baby. When Mahakali saw a baby crying, She quickly picked Him up and began nursing Him. This is how She eventually calmed down. As for Her protruding tongue: She had stepped on Shiva's chest and, realizing this, bit Her tongue in shame.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, who established the idol form we see today? Krishnananda Agamavagisha. He loved the Mother dearly but had never seen Her physical form. He kept begging Her, "Show me Your form! How should I worship You?" The Mother told him, "When you return from your morning bath, the first person you see will be My form."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The next morning, after his bath, he forgot the Mother's words. As he was walking back, he saw a local woman holding a lump of cow dung in her left hand, using her right hand to stick cow-dung cakes onto a wall. One of her feet was on the ground, and the other was resting on the wall. When the woman saw the revered Agamavagisha, she bit her tongue in shame. Realizing this was the vision the Mother had promised, he based the idol of Maa Kali on this exact posture.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
People have made many interpretations of Maa Kali as time progresses. Ramprasad devoted much of his life to Her, and we have done our share too. But I will say one thing: She is the subduer of Time. She is not under the control of Time; rather, She has kept Time under Her feet. Kali is the first and the last Vidya. Anyone practicing the Dasha Mahavidya must worship Kali first. If Kali does not bless you, none of the other Vidyas will support you. As you continuously worship Kali, Maa Tara and the other Goddesses will automatically come to you.
Host:
Gurudev, we see many forms of Kali, such as Dakshina Kali and Shmashan Kali...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes. For Dakshina Kali, the Mother's right foot is on Mahadev's chest and Her left foot is on the ground. For Vama Kali, the left foot is on Shiva's chest and the right foot is on His thigh. Then there is Shmashan Kali, Raksha Kali, and thousands of other forms. People worship Her based on how She was established in a particular place—like Guhya Kali. But leave all those names aside. Kali is just Kali. There is only one Kali, make no mistake.
Host:
I have heard you say that "Kali" is for general reference, but in Tantra, She is referred to as "Mahakali."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There are three supreme forms: Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali. Generally, we hear about Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Kali. But the supreme forms—Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali—are not worshipped at home. They are three-eyed Goddesses. Any three-eyed Goddess or a Goddess with a protruding tongue should never be worshipped inside a household. When we do regular Lakshmi Puja at home, she has two eyes. But Tantric forms have three eyes, and there is a huge difference. Tantra is a vast subject. Kali is the one who suppresses Time.
Host:
Could you tell us a little bit about how Maa Kali is approached in Tantric sadhana, or how you have worshipped Her? For instance, the garland of skulls she wears.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is impossible to explain it completely. But regarding the garland of skulls (Mundamala), those are actually deities. There are 51 skulls in the Mother's garland, representing 51 deities or the 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet (Varnamala). Analyzing this would take a lot of time. The skulls have different colors. The Mother wears them around Her neck because they reside with Her. During Kali Puja, these 51 deities must be worshipped as well. Tantrik practitioners must start with Kali sadhana. Once Kali is satisfied, all other deities are automatically satisfied.
Host:
I have also heard from you that to satisfy Maa Kali, one must first satisfy the beings that surround Her—the Dakinis, Yoginis, ghosts, and spirits.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes. Ghosts, spirits, Daityas, Danavas, Betalas, Pishachas, Rakshasas—these entities roam around the Mother. You have to offer them food first. If you don't satisfy them, the Mother will not be satisfied. They are the ones who clear the path for the Mother to arrive. She doesn't just appear out of nowhere. If these entities are displeased, She won't come. If they are pleased, they are the ones who call the Mother and bring Her to you. Things like blood and gore are just imagination. I don't believe in all that. I only know that the 51 skulls represent 51 Goddesses.
Host:
And a Guru is absolutely essential for Kali sadhana, right?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes! Sadhana cannot be done without a Guru. The Guru will guide you on the path. You cannot achieve anything without a Guru.
Host:
So, as you heard from Gurudev, these practices of Maa Kali cannot be done at home. They are to be done in a cremation ground (Shmashan), abandoned places, or open fields...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, the Mother's worship is famous in these places. It should not be done at home. It will ruin your home, shatter it, and end your bloodline. I have seen families wiped out, leaving no one behind to even light a lamp or continue the worship. That is why these pujas should be done in fields, cremation grounds, or desolate places where humans don't live. If Tantric Kali Puja is done at home, the house will be destroyed within two years.
Host:
You just heard from Gurudev about the first Goddess of the Dasha Mahavidya. According to him, Kali is both the first and the last Goddess. Gurudev shared as much as he could, though there are deep esoteric truths (Guhya Tattva) that cannot be entirely explained here. Most people wouldn't understand it anyway. Since we are continuing our series on the Dasha Mahavidya, Maa Kali's chapter concludes here. Next, Maa Tara will arrive, and we will discuss Her in the next episode. That's all for today. I will request you all to chant the Harinam once.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, in the Kali Yuga, the Harinam is supreme. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Harernamaiva, Harernamaiva, Harernamaiva Kevalam. Kalau Nastyeva Nastyeva Nastyeva Gatiranyatha. In Kali Yuga, there is no other way, no other way, no other way than the holy name. There is no other path in Kali Yuga except chanting the Harinam Sankirtan. You don't need heavy rituals or pujas, and frankly, no deity is going to accept those rituals anymore. The Kali Yuga is nearing its end phase. It might take another 20, 25, or 30 years, but the peak of Kali will arrive.
Host:
Everyone, please stay healthy, stay well, and keep chanting the Harinam. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam.