Kali the Kali the mother mother

Name : Shranti Sitaram Hake Name : Shranti Sitaram Hake Class : M. A. 2Class : M. A. 2ndnd Roll no : 3057Roll no : 3057College : S. M. Joshi College, College : S. M. Joshi College, Hadapsar Pune Hadapsar Pune Guided by : Dhumal Sir

Swami Vivekanand

Introduction Introduction During the period from 1897 to 1899, Vivekanand During the period from 1897 to 1899, Vivekanand travelled in north India. In 1898, he went to travelled in north India. In 1898, he went to Kashmir. There he stayed at a houseboat on Dal Kashmir. There he stayed at a houseboat on Dal Lake. After visiting the Kheer Bhawani temple near Lake. After visiting the Kheer Bhawani temple near Shrinagar, Vivekanand wrote the present poem. In Shrinagar, Vivekanand wrote the present poem. In this poem, Vivekanand worships the terrible form this poem, Vivekanand worships the terrible form of the goddess. By doing so, the poet glorifies the of the goddess. By doing so, the poet glorifies the goddess Kali who is associated with empowerment. goddess Kali who is associated with empowerment. The poet reveals the fact that the whole universe is The poet reveals the fact that the whole universe is the stage for the terrible and the frenzied dance of the stage for the terrible and the frenzied dance of the Goddess. The poem very much influenced the Goddess. The poem very much influenced Subhash Chandra Bose and Shri. Aurobindo. Subhash Chandra Bose and Shri. Aurobindo. Influenced by the poem, dr. S. Radhakrishnan said:Influenced by the poem, dr. S. Radhakrishnan said:“ “ The poem gives articulation and voice to that The poem gives articulation and voice to that eternal spirit of India.”eternal spirit of India.”

Kali the Mother Kali the Mother The stars are blotted out,The stars are blotted out,

The clouds are covering The clouds are covering clouds,clouds,It is darkness vibrant, sonant.It is darkness vibrant, sonant.In the roaring, whirling windIn the roaring, whirling windAre the souls of a million Are the souls of a million lunaticslunaticsJust loose from the prison-Just loose from the prison-house,house,Wrenching trees by the roots,Wrenching trees by the roots,Sweeping all from the path…Sweeping all from the path…

The sea has joined The sea has joined the fray,the fray,And swirls up And swirls up mountain-waves,mountain-waves,To reach the pitchy To reach the pitchy sky.sky.The flash of lurid The flash of lurid lightlightReveals on every Reveals on every side side A thousand, A thousand, thousand shadesthousand shadesOf death begrimed Of death begrimed and blackand black

Summary Summary It is night time and stars are blotted out It is night time and stars are blotted out as there is rush of clouds in the sky. The as there is rush of clouds in the sky. The darkness is vibrant the whirls of the darkness is vibrant the whirls of the wind are roaring .In the wind ,are the wind are roaring .In the wind ,are the souls of million lunatics which seem to souls of million lunatics which seem to be let loose from prison .They wrench be let loose from prison .They wrench trees from the roots .The uprooted trees trees from the roots .The uprooted trees then are sweeped away from the then are sweeped away from the path .The sea has reached its path .The sea has reached its shore .The sea waves are high as shore .The sea waves are high as mountains .They seem to touch to dark mountains .They seem to touch to dark sky .sky .

There is flash of fearful light on both the sides There is flash of fearful light on both the sides of the road. Thousands of deadly black shades of the road. Thousands of deadly black shades are revealed thought the flash. They spread are revealed thought the flash. They spread sorrow and despair. They dance madly with sorrow and despair. They dance madly with joy. Mother Kali needs to come here to stop joy. Mother Kali needs to come here to stop everything and bring end to the monstrous everything and bring end to the monstrous things.things.Mother Kali is able to fight with the evil Mother Kali is able to fight with the evil powers. This is because she herself is very powers. This is because she herself is very terrible. She can destroy all monstrous terrible. She can destroy all monstrous beings. The poet says:beings. The poet says:

““for terror is Thy name,for terror is Thy name,death is in thy breath’’.death is in thy breath’’.

Every moving step of the Goddess can Every moving step of the Goddess can destroy the world of the evil. She is destroy the world of the evil. She is the “Time” which destroys all. Such a the “Time” which destroys all. Such a powerful mother is needed to end the powerful mother is needed to end the evil power. The poet prays Goddess evil power. The poet prays Goddess Kali to come on the earth. Kali the Kali to come on the earth. Kali the Mother definitely comes to save one Mother definitely comes to save one who is in misery and in the embrace who is in misery and in the embrace of Death. Kali the Mother helps those of Death. Kali the Mother helps those who are threatened by destruction. who are threatened by destruction.

Critical commentsCritical comments“ “ Kali the Mother” is a highly religious poem. It is in Kali the Mother” is a highly religious poem. It is in praise of Kali, the mother. The poem is full of praise of Kali, the mother. The poem is full of images such as ‘stars’, ‘clouds’ wind’ ‘trees’, ‘sea-images such as ‘stars’, ‘clouds’ wind’ ‘trees’, ‘sea-waves’ ‘the sky’ ‘Death’ and of the ‘Mother’ herself. waves’ ‘the sky’ ‘Death’ and of the ‘Mother’ herself. The poem contains metaphorical expression: “for The poem contains metaphorical expression: “for Terror is thy name”. Similes also are abundant Terror is thy name”. Similes also are abundant here. The poet compares the powerful Goddess here. The poet compares the powerful Goddess with Death. Personification also is found in the with Death. Personification also is found in the poem. The wind, the sea and Death are personified. poem. The wind, the sea and Death are personified. The poet’s devotion to the Goddess also finds The poet’s devotion to the Goddess also finds expression. Above all. The poem is highly expression. Above all. The poem is highly meaningful. The poet stands for all the Hindus who meaningful. The poet stands for all the Hindus who worship the Goddess as all powerful.worship the Goddess as all powerful.