For Devi bhaktas: Why Kali is depicted with Shiva lying under her feet?

Question

In many pictures you may have seen shiva lying on the floor and Kali is standing near /or on him and her feet is just touching his chest.

Do you know the mythological and spiritual explanation behind this ? Jai Mata Ki

Nani cant you see how beautifully Mata Bhaktas have replied. Most of the answers are gems. You can learn a lot from YA as i am learning.

Why am i missing aum and aradhana ?

muthu, chandrasekharan, jayaraman, sharma krsna all are blessed children of mother, great replies

And Magnolia has given the great philosophical point of Shiva and Shava
THANKS ALL OF YOU.

(how many best answers I can chose ?)

Aum Baba , Thanks You are wonderful. Aceept my charan sparsha

Answer 1

Nani that was not a raaksasa but Lord Shiva. The story behind this is as

Kali is the fearful and ferocious form of the mother goddess Durga. She assumed the form of a powerful goddess and became popular with the composition of the Devi Mahatmya, a text of the 5th - 6th century AD. Here she is depicted as having born from the brow of Goddess Durga during one of her battles with the demon Daruka. As the legend goes, in the battle, Kali was so much involved in the killing spree that she got carried away and began destroying everything in sight. To stop her, Lord Shiva threw himself under her feet. Shocked at this sight, Kali stuck out her tongue in astonishment, and put an end to her homicidal rampage. Hence the common image of Kali shows her in her mêlée mood, standing with one foot on Shiva's chest, with her enormous tongue stuck out.
I am feeling to write more about this as I am also the worshiper of MahaKali, so I continue:

Kali is represented with perhaps the fiercest features amongst all the world's deities. She has four arms, with a sword in one hand and the head of a demon in another. The other two hands bless her worshippers, and say, "fear not"! She has two dead heads for her earrings, a string of skulls as necklace, and a girdle made of human hands as her clothing. Her tongue protrudes from her mouth, her eyes are red, and her face and breasts are sullied with blood. She stands with one foot on the thigh, and another on the chest of her husband, Shiva.
Kali's fierce form is strewed with awesome symbols. Her black complexion symbolizes her all-embracing and transcendental nature. Says the Mahanirvana Tantra: "Just as all colors disappear in black, so all names and forms disappear in her". Her nudity is primeval, fundamental, and transparent like Nature — the earth, sea, and sky. Kali is free from the illusory covering, for she is beyond the all maya or "false consciousness." Kali's garland of fifty human heads that stands for the fifty letters in the Sanskrit alphabet, symbolizes infinite knowledge.

Her girdle of severed human hands signifies work and liberation from the cycle of karma. Her white teeth show her inner purity, and her red lolling tongue indicates her omnivorous nature — "her indiscriminate enjoyment of all the world's 'flavors'." Her sword is the destroyer of false consciousness and the eight bonds that bind us.

Her three eyes represent past, present, and future, — the three modes of time — an attribute that lies in the very name Kali ('Kala' in Sanskrit means time). The eminent translator of Tantrik texts, Sir John Woodroffe in Garland of Letters, writes, "Kali is so called because She devours Kala (Time) and then resumes Her own dark formlessness."

Kali's proximity to cremation grounds where the five elements or "Pancha Mahabhuta" come together, and all worldly attachments are absolved, again point to the cycle of birth and death. The reclined Shiva lying prostrate under the feet of Kali suggests that without the power of Kali (Shakti), Shiva is inert.
Kali's guises and names are diverse. Shyama, Adya Ma, Tara Ma and Dakshina Kalika, Chamundi are popular forms. Then there is Bhadra Kali, who is gentle, Shyamashana Kali, who lives only in the cremation ground, and so on. The most notable Kali temples are in Eastern India — Dakshineshwar and Kalighat in Kolkata (Calcutta) and Kamakhya in Assam, a seat of tantrik practices. Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Vamakhyapa, and Ramprasad are some of the legendary devotees of Kali.

Answer 2

Kali Devi

Answer 3

Kali symbolises time. The all equaliser who eats even her own children. We are all created and born within the framework of time which will also destroy us.

Kali time therefore is also indicative of our immanent mortality.

We seek immortality.

Shiva appears dead beneath her feet.
But on closer inspection he is infact smiling (asleep)

Shiva symbolises Consciousness; The Shakti symbolises material nature.
Consciousness is asleep and impermanent nature dances on top.

When we are asleep to our consciousness we are trampled upon by death.

When Consciousness arises; when we awaken to our consciousness and stand; we acheive immortality.

Idiots neo-Sikhs etc state that Kali is a Hindu Goddess then might even try giving a philosophical interpretation not realising that that itself is a Hindu interpretation.

Ramakrishna was asked which one was better nirgun or sagun. He said both; if you only do one you miss the other; Hindu symbols bring nirgun to our understanding and so our lives.

Answer 4

Kalima is Prana
The Life
Without Her every one is Shava
Even Shiva is Shiva because
She is dwelling inside His body

After the total distruction
Shiva also dissolves
Into a stagnant Time
The Time is Kali

Answer 5

Kali is Power. Whenever this power becomes uncontrollable, it knows no relations and always seek for conflict or duet. Kali over Shiva's body represent the fact that one should not be too much intoxicated and outragious because of power. The messege is control your senses and strength.

Answer 6

Shiva lied down before Mother Kali to pacify her after her war with asuras.

Shiva is the base from which shakti emerges and Shiva is a dead body without shakti.

Answer 7

Under Her Feet

Answer 8

ayi girina.ndini na.nditamedini vishvavinodini na.ndanute

girivara vi.ndhya shirodhinivaasini vishhNuvilaasini jishhNunute .

bhagavati he shitikaNThakuTuMbini bhuuri kuTuMbini bhuuri kR^ite

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .

ayi girina.ndini na.nditamedini vishvavinodini na.ndanute

girivara vi.ndhya shirodhinivaasini vishhNuvilaasini jishhNunute .

bhagavati he shitikaNThakuTuMbini bhuuri kuTuMbini bhuuri kR^ite

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .

ayi jagadaMba madaMba kadaMba vanapriya vaasini haasarate

shikhari shiromaNi tuN^ga himaalaya shR^i.nga nijaalaya madhyagate .

madhu madhure madhu kaiTabha ga.njini kaiTabha bha.njini raasarate

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

ayi shatakhaNDa vikhaNDita ruNDa vituNDita shuNDa gajaadhipate

ripu gaja gaNDa vidaaraNa chaNDa paraakrama shuNDa mR^igaadhipate .

nija bhuja daNDa nipaatita khaNDa vipaatita muNDa bhaTaadhipate

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

ayi raNa durmada shatru vadhodita durdhara nirjara shaktibhR^ite

chatura vichaara dhuriiNa mahaashiva duutakR^ita pramathaadhipate .

durita duriiha duraashaya durmati daanavaduuta kR^itaa.ntamate

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .

ayi sharaNaagata vairi vadhuuvara viira varaabhaya daayakare

tribhuvana mastaka shuula virodhi shirodhi kR^itaamala shuulakare .

dumidumi taamara du.ndubhinaada maho mukhariikR^ita tigmakare

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

ayi nija hu.NkR^iti maatra niraakR^ita dhuumra vilochana dhuumra shate

samara vishoshhita shoNita biija samud.hbhava shoNita biija late .

shiva shiva shuMbha nishuMbha mahaahava tarpita bhuuta pishaacharate

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

dhanuranu sa.nga raNakShaNasa.nga parisphura da.nga naTatkaTake

kanaka pisha.nga pR^ishhatka nishha.nga rasad.hbhaTa shR^i.nga hataavaTuke .

kR^ita chaturaN^ga balakShiti raN^ga ghaTad.hbahuraN^ga raTad.hbaTuke

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

jaya jaya japya jayejaya shabda parastuti tatpara vishvanute

bhaNa bhaNa bhiJNjimi bhi.nkR^ita nuupura si.njita mohita bhuutapate .

naTita naTaardha naTiinaTa naayaka naaTita naaTya sugaanarate

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

ayi sumanaH sumanaH sumanaH sumanaH sumanohara kaa.ntiyute

shrita rajanii rajanii rajanii rajanii rajaniikara vaktravR^ite .

sunayana vibhramara bhramara bhramara bhramara bhramaraadhipate

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

sahita mahaahava mallama tallika mallita rallaka mallarate

virachita vallika pallika mallika bhillika bhillika varga vR^ite .

sitakR^ita pullisamulla sitaaruNa tallaja pallava sallalite

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .

avirala gaNDa galanmada medura matta mataN^gaja raajapate

tribhuvana bhuushhaNa bhuuta kalaanidhi ruupa payonidhi raajasute .

ayi suda tiijana laalasamaanasa mohana manmatha raajasute

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

kamala dalaamala komala kaa.nti kalaakalitaamala bhaalalate

sakala vilaasa kalaanilayakrama keli chalatkala ha.nsa kule .

alikula saN^kula kuvalaya maNDala maulimilad.hbhakulaali kule

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .

kara muralii rava viijita kuujita lajjita kokila maJNjumate

milita pulinda manohara guJNjita ra.njitashaila nikuJNjagate .

nijaguNa bhuuta mahaashabariigaNa sadguNa saMbhR^ita kelitale

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ..

kaTitaTa piita dukuula vichitra mayuukhatiraskR^ita cha.ndra ruche

praNata suraasura maulimaNisphura da.nshula sannakha cha.ndra ruche .

jita kanakaachala maulipadorjita nirbhara ku.njara kuMbhakuche

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

vijita sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraikanute

kR^ita surataaraka saN^garataaraka saN^garataaraka suunusute .

suratha samaadhi samaanasamaadhi samaadhisamaadhi sujaatarate

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

padakamalaM karuNaanilaye varivasyati yo.anudina.n sa shive

ayi kamale kamalaanilaye kamalaanilayaH sa kathaM na bhavet.h .

tava padameva paraMpadamityanushiilayato mama kiM na shive

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

kanakalasatkala sindhu jalairanu siJNchinute guNa raN^gabhuvaM

bhajati sa kiM na shachiikucha kuMbha taTii pariraMbha sukhaanubhavam.h .

tava charaNaM sharaNaM karavaaNi nataamaravaaNi nivaasi shivaM

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .

tava vimalendukulaM vadanendumalaM sakalaM nanu kuulayate

kimu puruhuuta puriindumukhii sumukhiibhirasau vimukhiikriyate .

mama tu mataM shivanaamadhane bhavatii kR^ipayaa kimuta kriyate

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

ayi mayi diinadayaalutayaa kR^ipayaiva tvayaa bhavitavyamume

ayi jagato jananii kR^ipayaasi yathaasi tathaa.anumitaasirate .

yaduchitamatra bhavatyurari kurutaadurutaapamapaakurute

jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .

iti shriimad.h aadyasha.nkaraachaaryavirachitaa shriimahishhaasuramardini stotraM saMpuurNam.h ..

Answer 9

Its Basic Spiritual significance is.....Maha Kali is the Cosmic Energy...playing all over the Universe in every form....having the SHIVA ..The concsiousness....her BASE! As She has Emerged from the Shiva ..... would dessolve in it.

Answer 10

Ma Kali who is standing over shiva is called DakshinaKalika.The purpose it is depicted like that is that she is acting as ''Udhbodhini'' that is one who is awakening somebody who is in deep sleep. Here shiva is shown sleeping means he has forgotten his true form that he is divine. The MA the kundalini is waking shiva to reunite with her and calling him back to her abode . Ma is called Bhavatarini in this form because she is ready to lift us from this world to go back to her womb permanently. Here I see myself sleeping and she is waking me to get out my sleep . JAI MA .