Kali is “Samara-priya” or she who enjoys war. In her rage fueled by her affection for her children and the ill-deeds of the wrongdoers, Kali becomes ecstatically infuriated, turning the entire world into a Shmashan or cremation grounds. This valiant and ferocious mood of the goddess is often described as Shmashan-Kali, “she who resides in Shmashan”. However gory and awe-inspiring in its iconography, Shmashan Kali for her devotees is the protective mother, whose guarding gaze ensures that no seen or unseen danger ever harms those who call upon her.
Against a night sky a shade lighter than herself, Kali lunges majestically in this watercolor on paper, her hair and garland of head swaying forcefully and a golden aura illuminating her stunning beauty. Kali wears dead bodies as her earrings, a girdle of hands, golden ornaments, and insects crawling on her legs as a part of her ornamentation. The Sun and the Moon seem to be afraid of the violence of the battleground and find shelter in the luscious hair of the mother.
In her left hand, goddess Kali carries a sword and a severed head, fresh blood dripping from which has attracted a jackal, who looks up in the hope of getting a drop or two. Contrasting with the warring attributes, Kali’s right hands are in benevolent gestures- Abhaya and Varada mudra, removing fear and bestowing boons on her devotees.
A river peacefully flows in the background, with flames of cremation fire (Chita) filling the sky with smoke. Bones lie on the ground, and another jackal runs in the left half of the painting. In his usual attire, Shiva lies at the feet of his Shakti, with meditating eyes and a relaxed demeanor, a divine witness to the bewildering Lila of Shmashan Kali.
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