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KALI : THE ETERNAL NIGHT
Kali is mentioned as the first amongst the MahaVidyas.
Black as the night, she has a terrible and horrific
appearance.
In the Rig-Veda, the world's most ancient book, there is
a 'Hymn to the Night' (Ratri sukta), which says that
there are two types of nights. One experienced by mortal
beings and the other by divine beings. In the former all
ephemeral activity comes to a standstill, while in the
latter the activity of divinity also comes to rest. This
absolute night is the night of destruction, the power of
kala. The word kala denotes time in Sanskrit. Kali's
name is derived from this word itself, as also from the
Sanskrit word for black. She is thus the timeless night,
both for ordinary mortals and for divine beings.
At night we nestle in happiness like birds in their
nests. Dwellers in the villages, theirs cows and horses,
the birds of the air, men who travel on many a business,
and jackals and wild beasts, all welcome the night and
joyfully nestle in her; for to all beings misguided by
the journey of the day she brings calm and happiness,
just as a mother would. The word ratri (night) is
derived from the root ra, "to give," and is taken to
mean "the giver" of bliss, of peace of happiness
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