The importance of worshiping the Hindu Goddess Kālī: Salvation and liberation from death and the human ego

Magistrsko delo razišče in interpretira ter analizira pomen čaščenja hinduistične boginje Kali. Raziskovanje s pomočjo literature in virov se osredotoči predvsem na to, zakaj se verniki zatekajo k čaščenju te boginje ter ali lahko tako pridejo do osvoboditve od smrti in človeškega ega. Jih boginja lahko pripelje do osvoboditve? Prav tako analizira pomen ikonografije in upodabljanja boginje, ki smo jim priča skozi njene omembe v mitih in epih. Številni avtorji boginjo predstavljajo kot strašno, grozno in shujšano, ki domuje na območju upepelitve ali prebiva na robu hindujske družbe. Večina opisov boginji pripisuje shujšan videz, razmršene in spuščene lase, vse skupaj pa dopolnjujeta ogrlica človeških lobanj in pas odrezanih rok. Vedno je povezana s smrtjo, krvjo in uničenjem. Njeni zvesti privrženci jo častijo kot strašno in nenadzorovano, a po drugi strani jo nekateri pri čaščenju vidijo kot mati in sebe kot otroka. Številni romarji jo pridejo častiti in ji podariti darove v njeno sveto mesto Kalighat. Kali pa je več kot le boginja smrti in uničenja, saj vernikom pomaga preseči idejo smrti in tako najti svobodo ter odrešitev. Ravno odrezane glave ter roke označujejo odpoved in osvoboditev od ega, da lahko pridemo do končne odrešitve po smrti in tako presežemo smrt samo. Boginja nam pri tem pomaga in nas vodi, da se sprijaznimo s prihajajočo smrtjo ter se znebimo strahu pred njo.The master\u27s thesis explores, interprets and analyzes the meaning of the worship of the Hindu goddess Kālī. Research through literature and sources focuses primarily on why believers resort to the worship of this goddess and whether this can lead to liberation from death and the human ego. Can the goddess lead them to liberation? It also analyzes the significance of iconography and the depiction of the goddess we witness through her mentions in myths and epics. Many authors present the goddess as a terrible, horrible and emaciated woman who lives in the area of cremation or lives on the edge of Hindu society. Most descriptions attribute to the goddess a slender appearance, disheveled and loose hair, all complemented by a garland of human skulls and a belt of severed arms. She is always associated with death, blood and destruction. Her faithful followers worship her as terrible and uncontrollable, but on the other hand, some see her in worship as a mother and themselves as children. Many pilgrims come to worship her and give her gifts in her holy city of Kālīghāt. Kālī, however, is more than just a goddess of death and destruction, as she helps believers transcend the idea of death and thus find freedom and salvation. Severed heads and arms signify renunciation and liberation from the ego so that we can reach final salvation after death and thus transcend death itself. The goddess helps us in this and guides us to come to terms with the coming death and get rid of the fear of it