Emergence of MahaKali and Slaying of Raktabeej, Written By-Rashmi Vajpayee
Nine different forms of Durga Maa are worshiped during the nine days of Navratri. These 9 Goddesses are the forms of Mata Parvati — Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. Devi or Shakti takes many appearances, incarnations, and names.
She can be a harmonious and sacrificial mother like Goddess Parvati is also worshipped as ‘Annapurna’ who is considered as the goddess of nourishment and fertility that represents food. A dangerous warrior and the epitome of strength like Goddess Durga who transformed herself into nine fierce forms to kill demons like ‘Mahisasura’, ‘Shumbh’, and ‘Nishumbh’ because they were fascinated by her beauty and attempted to abduct her forcibly.
As the fiery goddess of annihilation Maha-Kali; she is the slayer of the devil ‘Raktabeej’ by drinking every single drop of his blood because with each drop of his blood fell on the ground, produced multiple forms of ‘Raktabeej’. On the 7th day of Navaratri, Devi Kalratri is worshipped. According to the Legends she forgoes her skin color and embraces a dark complexion to kill the demons Today we will know how a powerful demon ‘ Raktabeej’ was killed by Goddess Kali.
There is an interesting story contained in Markandeya Purana. As per the eighth chapter of Devi Mahatmya from Markandeya Purana, there was a demon called Raktabeej (blood-seed). He had been granted a boon by Lord Brahma that every time a drop of his blood dropped on the ground, his power would increase many times and a duplicate Raktabeej would emerge at that place.
Consequently, whenever an effort was made to kill this demon, many Raktabeej would restore with the drops of his blood. Raktabeej was the chief administrator of the Demon King Shumbh and Nishumbh army. After receiving the boon from Brahma, he had made everybody’s life miserable on earth.
Whenever Raktabeej was confronted and harmed, more Raktabeej were produced and attacked the enemy. Therefore, the Gods unite all of their divine powers and create the powerful woman that could kill Raktabeej; the outcome was Kali. Goddess Kali is viewed as the most dangerous and fierce form of Shakti. With red eyes, dusky skin, swelling red tongue, and the garland of heads around her neck, she is the slayer of evil.
Kali in her devastating form defeated the huge army and swallowed everyone on the field, which left Raktabeej alone. Whenever an attempt was performed to kill Raktabeej, every drop of his blood that would drop on the ground would create another Raktabeej. To destroy Raktabeej enraged Kali opened her mouth wide and started soaking the blood of Raktabeej so that the blood that leaked out from his body dropped on her tongue, not on the ground. This way, Mahakali killed Raktabeej and protected the world from the demons.
Hello friends I am DrRashmi Vajpayee, Ph.D. Awardee, Assistant professor, and founder of Rashmi Vajpayee’s Confessions on Culture. Here I share everything about Indian Culture and Festivals. I hope you guys enjoy my content so keep reading!.
