KÂLI
Real Name: Kâli
Identity/Class: Hindu God
Occupation: Goddess of death, destruction, life and creation
Group Membership: Hindu
Gods (Daevas)
Affiliations: Dakini (demonic servants);
Enemies: The Rakshasas
Known Relatives:
Shiva (father/husband), Parvati (mother);
Aliases: "Black" (translation of Kâli), the
Black One, Durga, "Fanged Deity," Kâli Ma ("Mother
Kâli"), Kara-Kai, Shakti, The Ferry across the Ocean of Existence
Base of Operations: Kailasa in the Nirvana Dimension
First Appearance: Amazing High Adventure#5 (December, 1986);
Physical Description: She appears as a four- to six-armed
woman, and in each of the arms is traditionally held a different weapon. She is seen with either a necklace or belt made of skulls, and wears a tiara
or crown.
History: (Hindu Myth) - Kâli is the daughter of the gods
Shiva and Parvati. When she was born, she was already able to lift a sword
and fight alongside her father against the Rakshasas, a demonic horde intent
on conquering Nirvana.
(Amazing High Adventure#5/3) - <1870's> An Indian rebel
called the Mahdi, seeking to destroy the British army, prayed to the Hindu
gods, demanding the power to fight the British. In a vision, Yama, Ratri
(goddess of night), Agni (god of fire, two-headed), Maya (goddess of dreams),
and Kâli granted the Mahdi powers and weapons to fight the British. From
Yama, the Mahdi gained a fiery sword; from Ratri, the power of "the night's
shadows"; from Agni, sacrificial flame; from Maya, the power to drive his enemies
to despair with illusions; and from Kâli, the wheel of destruction. The Mahdi
then used these powers in battle--only to discover too late that he had offended
the gods by trying to order them around. The Mahdi's weapons were only illusions,
and he died in battle.
(Thor I#301 (BTS)) - Kâli was presumably present in Nirvana when the Asgardian
god Thor came to Nirvana and fought her father.
(War Machine#6) - Kâli's religious zealots known as the Thuggees
began terrorizing India by committing vast murders to please her. The Indian
Government hired Saint Van Sant to wipe them out, but the taste of her dead
worshippers pleased her so much that Kâli offered him eternal life if he
continued feeding her souls. Van Sant embraced the pact and became the assassin
called Deathtoll. He was killed later by War Machine.
In myth, Kâli is described as having black skin, six arms,
a long tongue, wild black hair and only wearing a garland of skulls. In some
myths, she is considered an aspect of Parvat and a wife of Shiva rather than
their daughter.
Will U. points out: "Many of the names given for Kâli also turn out to be goddesses of
different parentages. Maybe she usurped their roles for the followers
and added power ?" Concerning Kâli's status as Shiva's wife/daughter, Kyle notes: "About the aliases, to clarify: Kâli, as an aspect of the feminine cosmic power known as Shakti, is also one and the same as other Hindu goddesses. This is the point that will be made in the "Shakti: Kâli's relationship to the Hindu Gods." As such, she is also the wife of Shiva, if not his "daughter."." An odd mistake on the part of the author of the
Amazing High Adventures concept. The concept of a
Mahdi is a Muslim, not a Hindu concept. The Mahdi will
serve as an assistant to Jesus when Muslims believe
Jesus will return to stop the Anti-Christ, protect
Muslims, and kill all pigs.
Other pop culture references involving Hindu gods
Besides comic books, Hindu gods have been used in other popular
entertainment forms:
Thugee: Kâli's Cult
The Shroud from Super-Villain Team Up#5 received his powers
from a Cult of Kâli in Nepal. Has this been depicted anywhere? The Shakti: Kâli's relationship to Hindu
gods Kâli's relationship to other goddesses Kâli shares certain noteworthy characteristics with
goddesses from different pantheons:
Kâli is referenced in the Hyborian era, @ 10,000 BC, in the
pages of Savage Sword of Conan. Like many of the Gods mentioned in that era,
it is uncertain whether this refers to the same Kâli of the modern day Hindu
religion, or some other predecessor. See the discussion under
Gods of the Hyborian era for further
discussion.
Profile by:
William
Uchtman and caliban
Clarifications: Kâli is the namesake
for, but should be distinguished from:
Any Additions/Corrections? please
let
me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
Mahdi, Shakti (female principle of power, member);
Deathtoll, Raga-Shah, the Shroud;
various Cults of Kâli (See Comments) (worshippers)
Powers/Abilities: Kâli possesses the conventional powers of the
Hindu Gods including superhuman strength (Class 25), speed and endurance. She is quicker and faster in agility than any other Hindu God probably because
of her small, acrobatic and lithe body. As a goddess of war, Kâli is unparalleled
in combat, being especially adept with swords. She tends to use dance-like
movements as well as her accelerated agility in combat. Personified as
fear of the unknown, Kâli possesses the ability to create and end fearful
feelings.
Weaknesses: None known, unless you count giving power
to an idiot like Deathtoll.
Comments: Adapted by Bill Mantlo and Steve Purcell
for Amazing High Adventure;
--John McDonagh
(I'm glad you asked, here's a brief history of the Cult of Kâli, also
called Thugees:
Last updated:
02/06/11
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