Why Does Goddess Kali Stand On Lord Shiva’s Chest? Story, Symbolism And Significance

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Most of us are intrigued by the fact as to why Goddess Kali is seen standing on Lord Shiva's chest. It's only too natural for curiosity to creep in. Mythology encapsulates the bare truth in a story to grasp it more easily.

Story Of Goddess Kali In Mythology

Once there was a battle between the devas (the gods) and asuras (demons) to gain control over the world. The leader of the demon clan was Raktabija, the demon general who had performed severe austerities and had gained a boon from Lord Brahma that his power should increase a thousand times with every drop of his blood spilt. The demons exhibited indomitable courage and wreaked havoc all around.

Goddess Durga came to the gods' aid with her might and power. However, she couldn't destroy Raktabija, as each time she attacked him and his blood spilt, a thousand more forms of him emerged. Goddess Durga then furrowed her brows in fury and out of her forehead emerged Kali, the terrible one.

Goddess Kali confronted the demons and brought about their destruction. She attacked the demon general, Raktabija on his side and quickly drank up his blood allowing not a single drop to spill on the ground, thereby bringing about his end. However, Goddess Kali's outrage was still unabated. She danced around with fury. Her power coupled with anger was such that wherever she set foot, there was absolute destruction.

The gods and all other beings beseeched Lord Shiva to stop the ravaging rage of Goddess Kali. Lord Shiva, the most merciful, lay down on the path where the goddess moved about with anger. As she danced about in fury she unknowingly stepped on the chest of Lord Shiva. This time it was an exception as her feet did not bring about destruction, for she was standing on the timeless, indestructible truth, Lord Shiva. The Goddess quizzically looked down to find her feet resting on Lord Shiva's chest. She was naturally abashed and with her anger abated, she stuck out her tongue with regret, stepping down from Lord Shiva's chest.

Symbolism Of Kali Standing On Shiva?

Lord Shiva is the silent, timeless, unchanging, all-pervasive, indestructible reality, which is pure consciousness. Goddess Kali is 'power' or 'energy' and is the Goddess of time, transformation and destruction. Shiva who is pure consciousness and Kali, who is energy or power are interdependent to carry out the functions of creation, preservation and destruction.

Lord Shiva fulfils his role of creation, preservation and destruction through Kali. However, Lord Shiva is the base or the substratum on which Goddess Kali performs the actions, bringing about the cycle of birth, life and death of all that is created. This is why Kali is seen standing on Lord Shiva's chest.

Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali's Relationship

Lord Shiva is the silent aspect of the eternal truth. Goddess Kali is the dynamic aspect of the same eternal truth. In essence, they are both the same. Whatever one perceives in the universe is the union of Shiva and Shakti.

Lord Shiva is the silent, non-active truth, which is why he is seen lying on the ground. Whereas Kali is the dynamic force, which is why she is resting her foot on Lord Shiva, who is silent. Goddess Kali does all her actions in conjunction with Lord Shiva.

This is the symbolism of Goddess Kali standing on Lord Shiva's chest and the relationship between the two.