Cleveland Museum of Art

Kali

Date

900s–1000s

Medium

bronze

Culture

South India, Tamil Nadu, Chola period (900-13th century)

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The female aspect of Shiva, the goddess Parvati, has her own cycle of myths, and she herself emanates into different forms. Some branches of Hinduism consider the goddess to be the supreme creator divinity herself, who generated all the other gods, including Shiva. This bronze sculpture could have been affiliated with either branch. Kali is the wrathful form of the goddess generated in the midst of a battle with a demon that the gods failed to conquer. Kali was to drink his blood before any drop fell to ground, or else a new demon would instantly be generated. The demons are metaphors for human vices, such as egotistic pride and arrogance.

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