Bhadrakālī

Bhadrakālī is the fierce and auspicious form of Devī Umā, who is the śakti (power) of Bhagavān Śiva. In the Kūrma Purāṇa she was created from the anger of Devī Umā. She came into being at the same time as Vīrabhadra, to take part in the destruction of Dakṣa’s yajña (fire ritual). She is the terrible and protecting side of Mahādevī. She acts as the instrument of right punishment against those who insult Parameśvara.

Creation from the anger of Devī Umā

The Kūrma Purāṇa tells that Devī Umā spoke of Dakṣa’s pride, and of how Bhagavān Śiva had been left out of the great yajña. Bhagavān Śiva was stirred by her words and decided to destroy that yajña. Then two great forces came into being at the same moment. Bhagavān Śiva made Vīrabhadra from his own divine power. At the same time Umā, who is Śivapūjyā (worshipped by Śiva), Mahādevī and Maheśvarī, made Bhadrakālī from her own anger (krodha).

The text says:

Śivapātnī Umā, with krodhā, created Maheśvarī named Bhadrakālī.

This means: Umā, the wife of Śiva, in her anger created the Maheśvarī who is named Bhadrakālī.

Bhadrakālī rode the bull (vṛṣabha) together with Vīrabhadra and his gaṇas (attendants of Śiva). They set out for the site of Dakṣa’s yajña at Gaṅgādvāra.

Her part in the destruction of the yajña

Bhadrakālī went with the vast host of Rudra-gaṇas of Vīrabhadra. These were the Romajā Rudras. They carried śūlas (spears), śaktis, gadās (maces) and huge stones. They marched on Dakṣa’s yajña. The Kūrma Purāṇa tells mostly of Vīrabhadra’s own acts of battle against the devas. Bhadrakālī is shown as a co-leader of this divine force, the presence and power of the Devī in the campaign.

Her relation to the Devī

In the Kūrma Purāṇa, Bhadrakālī is the form of Devī Umā’s śakti in its terrible and protecting side, the Maheśvarī aspect. She is not apart from the Devī. She is the Devī’s own emanation, sent out against adharma (the opposite of dharma). She belongs to the fierce forms of Mahāśakti. She is the Devī acting to uphold dharma and the honour of Parameśvara.

The name Bhadrakālī joins bhadra (auspicious, gracious) and Kālī.

The Śiva Purāṇa account: born from the second jaṭā

The Satī Khaṇḍa of the Śiva Purāṇa gives a different account of the origin of Mahākālī, at the moment Vīrabhadra was born. Bhagavān Śiva heard that Satī had given up her life in the fire at Dakṣa’s yajña. In grief he tore his matted locks (jaṭā). From the front half of the torn jaṭā Vīrabhadra arose. From the second half arose Mahākālī, who is named Bhadrakālī in this account. She was surrounded by crores of bhūtas (spirits) and attended by the nine Durgās: Kālī, Kātyāyanī, Īśānī, Cāmuṇḍā, Muṇḍamardinī, Bhadrakālī, Bhadrā and Vaiṣṇavī.

Mahākālī led the army against Dakṣa’s yajña together with Vīrabhadra. With them came Ḍākinīs, Śākinīs, Bhairavas, Kṣetrapālakas, Yakṣas and Yoginī-gaṇas. In the Śiva Purāṇa, both Vīrabhadra (born from the fury of Śiva) and Mahākālī (the feminine force of wrath that goes with him) rise from the same torn lock of Śiva’s jaṭā. They are a pair, born of his grief and anger.

Sources

• Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 15
• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Satī Khaṇḍa, Chapters 32–33