Meditation On
Maa Maha Kaali

“OṀ. I Revere Maa Maha Kaali, Who Holds In Her Divine Hands The Sword, Discus, Mace, Arrow, Bow, Iron Club, Spear, Sling, human head, And Conch; Who Is Three-Eyed, Adorned On All Her Divine Limbs, And Sparkling Like a sapphire; Who Has Ten Faces And Ten Feet; And Whom lord brahma Extolled while lord vishnu slept, in order To Slay madhu and kaitabha.”
From The Meditation On Maa Maha Kaali, First Carita, Of
“The Devi Mahatmya”

A Physical Image Such As A Sculpture Or Painting Or even a mental visualization Of The Image in meditation allows us to approach The Infinite Through Finite Symbols.

Such Symbols Correspond To psychological or spiritual truths, And Every Gesture, Posture, Colour, Or Object Associated With The Depiction Of The Divine Mother Maa Maha Kaali Symbolizes Divine Blessings, Wisdom, And Guidance.

It is also important to understand that Symbols Can Be Esoteric, With Meanings not readily obvious or easily understood. Only deepest sincerity may enable us to attain profound insights.


In this mediation, Maa Maha Kaali Is Depicted With Ten Divine Hands, Symbolizing the ten directions:
– the four cardinal points,
– the intermediate points, and
– the points above and below
This conveys the knowledge Of The Divine Omnipresence.

Maa Maha Kaali’s Sword Symbolizes the knowledge that destroys ignorance by severing what is apparent and transitory from What Is Real And Eternal.

The Discus Symbolizes the constantly turning wheel of time, which relentlessly and inevitably destroys all that has name and label.

The Mace Symbolizes the destruction of unrighteousness.

The Bow Symbolizes the tamasic aspect of ego.

Accompanying The Bow, The Arrow Symbolizes the sensory and motor organs.

The Iron Bar Symbolizes restraint or self-control.

The Spear Symbolizes the penetrating insight of spiritual awareness.

The Sling Symbolizes To Affect Over Distances

The Trident (Trishula) Symbolizes the past, present, and future, as well as creation, preservation, and destruction.

The severed human head symbolizes the vanquished ego, signifying the transcendence of the limitations of false ego-based individual self, and the realization Of The True Self.

The skull cup (kapala) Signifies the consumption of negative traits and impurities.

The Conch Symbolizes the auspicious sound with the power to awaken the awareness Of The Divine Reality and the destruction of ignorance.

Maa Maha Kaali Is Depicted With Three Eyes That Witness the past, present and future, Which Is Symbolic Of Divine Omniscience.

Maa Maha Kaali Is Depicted In Blue-Black Complexion Signifying the infinitude of the night sky.

What Do The Weapons That Maa Maha Kaali Is Depicted Holding Symbolize?

Maa Maha Kaali is often depicted holding various Weapons, each symbolizing different aspects of Her Power:

  • Maa Maha Kaali Is Depicted With Ten Divine Hands, Symbolizing the ten directions:
  1. the four cardinal points,
  2. the intermediate points, and
  3. the points above and below
  • This conveys the knowledge Of The Divine Omnipresence.
  • Maa Maha Kaali’s Sword Symbolizes the knowledge that destroys ignorance by severing what is apparent and transitory from What Is Real And Eternal.
  • The Discus Symbolizes the constantly turning wheel of time, which relentlessly and inevitably destroys all that has name and label.
  • The Mace Symbolizes the destruction of unrighteousness.
  • The Bow Symbolizes the tamasic aspect of ego.
  • Accompanying The Bow, The Arrow Symbolizes the sensory and motor organs.
  • The Iron Bar Symbolizes restraint or self-control.
  • The Spear Symbolizes the penetrating insight of spiritual awareness.
  • The Trident (Trishula) Symbolizes the past, present, and future, as well as creation, preservation, and destruction.
  • The severed human head symbolizes the vanquished ego, signifying the transcendence of the limitations of false ego-based individual self, and the realization Of The True Self.
  • The skull cup (kapala) Signifies the consumption of negative traits and impurities.
  • The Conch Symbolizes the auspicious sound with the power to awaken the awareness Of The Divine Reality and the destruction of ignorance.
  • Maa Maha Kaali Is Depicted With Three Eyes That Witness the past, present and future, Which Is Symbolic Of Divine Omniscience.
  • Maa Maha Kaali Is Depicted In Blue-Black Complexion Signifying the infinitude of the night sky.