Introduction

Goddess Kalratri is considered to be the most fierce form of goddess Parvati. Because of her black complexion, Lord Shiva referred to him as Kali. In addition to this, she is also referred to as Bhadrakali and Mahakali. Goddess Parvati took this fierce form to defeat the demons Shumbh and Nisumbh. However her appearance is fierce only for evils, for her devotees, she is auspicious. Devotees worship the goddess on the 7th Day of Navratri to seek her blessings. Read more about her significance, the reason behind her appearance,  various iconographies, etc.

Who Is Goddess Kalratri?

Goddess Kalratri is the 7th manifestation of Goddess Navdurga. Therefore, she is worshipped on the 7th day of Navratri. She is the protector of her devotees from the evil forces and brings auspicious results to them. This is why her other name is 'Shubhankari (one who grants blessings of auspiciousness)'.

Image: Goddess Kalratri               (Source: Google Images)

What Is The Significance Of The Name 'Kalratri'?

The name Kalratri is composed of two elements 'Kal' and 'Ratri'. The element 'Kal' is a Sanskrit word that refers to 'Time'. In another context, it also refers to Lord Shiva as 'Kaal Bhairav or Mahakal' which means 'Master of Time'. While 'Kal' is the name of another deity considered 'God of Death', reflecting Lord Yama's qualities.

'Ratri' is also a Sanskrit Word for 'Night' which ultimately symbolizes darkness, a suitable time to awaken evil energies. Hence,  this way, the overall meaning of Kalratri is - one who embodies the darkness and removes all the negative and evil forces. She is personified as "the goddess for the death of Kaal”. 

What Is The Hindu Tale Behind the Appearance Of Goddess Kalratiri?

In a series of many battles between Goddess Durga and Demon King Mahishasur, there came a time when Raktbeej (A demon from the side of Mahishasur) came to the battleground to fight with the goddess. Raktbeej had the power to create a clone of himself by dropping blood of himself on the ground. Therefore, Goddess Chamunda who was fighting with Shumbh and Nisumbh at that time created Goddess Kali to fight against Raktbeej.

Goddess Kali appeared in a very fierce form to Kill Raktbeej. She killed every clone of Raktbeej and drank the drops of blood to prevent them from falling on Earth. This way she finally conquered Raktbeej and slayed him. But she became quite outrageous during all these processes of killing and drinking the drops of blood. She lost her temperament and became very angry,  destructive, and uncontrollable. Even Devas were threatened by such a violent form of the goddess.

Goddess Kalratri Depiction

Goddess Kalratri is depicted with four hands mounted on a Donkey. She holds a Khadga and Vajra (Thunderbolt) in her left two hands while the right two hands are in Varada Mudra and Abhay Mudra respectively. Her complexion is as black as night and has bountiful hairs that represent her bewilderment and destructive mode. The three eyes of Goddess Kalratri reflect her outrageousness and anger. However, her fierce form is only for the evils and wicked while she is auspicious and fortunate for her devotees.

Significance Of Various Iconographies

Khadga

A sword or Khadga is a weapon with a sharp edge. It is a symbol of power and strength leading to victory over evils. It also represents the goddess's ability to pierce the negatives and cut your ignorance.

Vajra (Thunderbolt)

A Vajra or Thunderbolt is a powerful weapon that has the potential to cause fatal consequences. It is the primary weapon of Lord Indra and is usually associated with him. Goddess Kalratri holding the Vajra in her left hand symbolizes her strength to cause fatal attacks to the wicked and evil.

Mudra

A Mudra is a special kind of hand gesture that is widely practiced in Hinduism. Other cultures such as Jainism and Buddhism also practice and promote its uses. There are various kinds of Mudras for various purposes. Mother Kalratri is seen posing with Abhaymudra and Varadmudra with her right two hands. The Varad Mudra is the symbol of Bliss while Abhaya Mudra is for assurance. Click here to learn more about their significance and uses.

Black Complexion

The black color of goddess Kalratri refers to the darkness present in the universe. Also, the black color is a symbol of the darkness of ignorance in our lives. However, the goddess removes the darkness of ignorance and shower with the light of wisdom and knowledge.

Donkey

A Donkey is a four-leg pet animal used mostly for laborious work. They remained mostly ignorant of the human species and a victim of our negligence toward them. However, they hold significance for the deities like Goddess Kalratri, Goddess Jyestha, and Goddess Shitla. These goddesses are depicted mounted on a Donkey which shows her ability to control the ignorance of their devotees.

Temples Dedicated To Goddess Kalratri In India

In India, the following are the temples specifically dedicated to Goddess Kalratri. These temples receive large gatherings at the time of the Navratri Festival in India:

Kalratri Temple, Dumri Buzurg, Nayagaon, Bihar

The Kalratri Temple at Nayagaon is situated in the Dumri Buzurg village of Sonpur block of Saran District in Bihar. The temple has strong beliefs among the devotees. This is why many devotees from neighboring states (Jharkhand, Bihar & Uttar Pradesh) visit this temple for their wishes to fulfill. It is about 20 km from the Patna Railway Station and can be easily reached Via JP Setu Road. The local people consider her the 'goddess of justice'.

Kalratri Varanasi Temple or Adi Shakti Kalratri Temple, Varanasi

The Kalratri Varanasi Temple or Adi Shakti Kalratri Temple is one the Shaktipeeth of Varanasi. The temple is at Kalika Gali near Shri Vishwanath Sanatan Dharm Inter College in Varanasi. The Kalika Gali derived its name from the name of the goddess. The temple remains open to worship for all days.

Kalratri Vindhyachal, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh

The Kalratri Vindhyachal Temple is a significant religious site for Hindus in India. It is one of the Shaktipeeth and a major pilgrimage for Hindus. The place has been mentioned in some of the sacred textbooks of Hindus like Vedas and Purans.

The temple is situated at the bank of Ganga in Vindhyachal Dham, in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh (the biggest state of India in terms of population). This place had been the abode of goddess Durga during the battle with Mahishasur. Therefore, the goddess Durga is known here as Vindhyavasini Devi and is worshipped in this form.

Kalratri Temple, Patiala Punjab

Kalratri Temple at Patiala Punjab is known as Shri Kali Devi Mandir in Patiala District of Punjab. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala who were the Maharaja of princely state from 1900 to 1938 established the temple in 1936. The beautiful infrastructure and a large complex area are the point of attraction in this temple. The temple also has been declared a national monument in India.

Why Should You Worship Goddess Kalratri?

Goddess Kalratri's fierce form is a threat to bad and evil forces and therefore they do not dare to do any harm to her devotees. Thus, worshipping her can protect you from these evil forces and negative energies. In addition to this, she also provides auspicious and good results in the lives of her devotees. Her other name is Shubhankari which means one who grants blessings of auspiciousness. Therefore, if you wish for fortune and protection in your life, you must worship her in a good way.

Highlights

The highlights about Goddess Kalratri are as given in the following:

(a) Goddess Kalratri is the most fierce manifestation of Goddess Parvati.

(b) She is worshipped on the 7th Day of Navaratri.

(c) Her other names are Kali, Bhadrakali, Mahakali and Shubhankari.

(d) She helped goddess Chandi defeat demons Shumbh and Nisumbh by slaying demon Raktbeej.

(e) Contrary to her fierce and aggressive form, she is 'Shubhankari', bringing auspicious results for her devotees.

Conclusion

Goddess Kalratri is a prominent figure in Hinduism. She is revered as the main deity of the Shakti cult in Hinduism. Worshipping Mother Kalratri offers protection from evil and bestows prosperity and auspiciousness. However, we must learn to worship her in a good way because only then would you be able to get her blessings for good.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Mata Kalratri?

Ans. Mother Kalratri is the seventh manifestation of Goddess Navdurga and therefore worshipped on the 7th Day of Navratri. She is the most fierce form of Maa Parvati and appears to bring down the demon named 'Raktbeej'.

Q2. Why does Goddess Kalratri mount a Donkey?

Ans. The donkey is a symbol of ignorance and negligence. Therefore, riding on Donkey Mother Kalratri gives the message that she can control the ignorance of her devotees.

Q3. Is Goddess Kalratri good or Bad and should we worship her?

Ans. Goddess Kalratri is threatful only to those who are wicked and evil. For her devotees, she is protective and gives promising results of their worship. Therefore, it is always good to worship her.