Misplaced Pages

#429570

79-519: Jaintiapur is a historic town nestled in the scenic Jaintia hills , around 40 kilometers from Sylhet city. It's a charming place with Khasi villages, pineapple and clementine orchards, and busy markets. The town has a long history filled with stories of civilization and battles. Back in the early 15th century, Jaintiapur was the capital of the Jaintia Kingdom , ruled by the Pnar people . Today,

158-421: A Matrika and as a Shakti or power of Devi . She is given the epithet Cāṃuṇḍā ( Chamunda ), i.e. the slayer of the demons Chanda and Munda . Chamunda is very often identified with Kali and is very much like her in appearance and habit. The goddess has two depictions: the popular four-armed form and the ten-armed Mahakali avatar. In both, she is described as being black in colour, though she

237-539: A japa mala or rosary for repetition of mantras ) or 51, which represents Varnamala or the Garland of letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, Devanagari . Hindus believe Sanskrit is a language of dynamism , and each of these letters represents a form of energy, or a form of Kali. Therefore, she is generally seen as the mother of language, and all mantras . She is often depicted naked which symbolizes her being beyond

316-538: A mountainous region in India that was mainly part of Assam and Meghalaya. This area is now part of the present Indian constitutive state of Meghalaya (formerly part of Assam ), which includes the present districts of East Jaintia Hills district , headquarter Khliehriat , West Jaintia Hills district , headquarter Jowai , East Khasi Hills district , headquarter Shillong , and West Khasi Hills district , headquarter Nongstoin . The Jaintia Hills are located further to

395-453: A Khadga (crescent-shaped sword or a giant sickle), a trishul (trident), a severed head, and a bowl or skull-cup ( kapāla ) collecting the blood of the severed head. This is the form of Bhima Kali. Two of these hands (usually the left) are holding a sword and a severed head. The sword signifies divine knowledge and the human head signifies human ego which must be slain by divine knowledge in order to attain moksha . The other two hands (usually

474-455: A Radja), Langrin , Langïong , Maharam , Malai Sohmat , Marriw , Mawdon , Mawiang , Mawlong , Mawphlang , Mylliem (including Shillong city, the colonial capital of all Tribal Assam), Nobosohphoh , Nonglwai , Nongkhlaw , Nongspung , Nongstoiñ , Pamsanngut , Rambrai , Shella , Sohïong . or Sardar ... Kali Traditional Kali ( / ˈ k ɑː l iː / ; Sanskrit : काली , IAST : Kālī ), also called Kalika ,

553-741: A corpse and holds a freshly cut head and a plate to collect the dripping blood. She is worshipped by warriors, tantrics – the followers of Tantra . Other forms of Kali popularly worshipped in Bengal include Raksha Kali (form of Kali worshipped for protection against epidemics and drought), Bhadra Kali and Guhya Kali. Kali is said to have 8, 12, or 21 different forms according to different traditions. The popular forms are Adya Kali, Chintamani Kali, Sparshamani Kali, Santati Kali, Siddhi Kali , Dakshina Kali, Rakta Kali , Bhadra Kali, Smashana Kali, Adharvana Bhadra Kali, Kamakala Kali, Guhya Kali, Hamsa Kali, Shyama Kali, and Kalasankarshini Kali. In Gujarat , Khodiyar

632-553: A different version of Kali's relationship with Parvati. When Shiva addresses Parvati as Kali, "the dark blue one", she is greatly offended. Parvati performs austerities to lose her dark complexion and becomes Gauri, the golden one. Her dark sheath becomes Kaushiki , who while enraged, creates Kali. In the Devi Bhagavata Purana , Kali turns black out of rage, while battling the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha . In Kāli's most famous legend, Durga and her assistants,

711-578: A group of Jaintias kidnapped British subjects attempting to sacrifice them to Kali . A culprit was then found by the British who admitted that it was an annual tradition which the Jaintias have been doing for 10 years. The priest would cut off the victim's throat and then the Jaintia princess would bathe in his blood. The Jaintia believed that this would bless the princess with offspring. Upon hearing this,

790-415: A hair of his Shakti [his energy/female companion] in the cremation-ground, becomes a great poet, a Lord of the earth, and ever goes mounted upon an elephant. The Karpuradi-stotra , dated to approximately 10th century CE, clearly indicates that Kāli is more than a terrible, vicious, slayer of demons who serves Durga or Shiva . Here, she is identified as the supreme mother of the universe, associated with

869-535: A literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 41.15%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1003 females per 1000 males. 7,887 (4.88%) lived in urban areas. Ethnic population was 1,721 (1.06%), of which Khasi were 477. As of the 2001 Bangladesh census , Jaintiapur had a population of 121458. Males constituted 63254 of the population, and females 58204. Muslim 109123, Hindu 12066, Christian 92, Buddhist 17 and others 160. Indigenous community such as khasia belongs to this upazila . In Jaintiapur Upazila,

SECTION 10

#1732773257430

948-423: A mudra saying "fear not" ( abhayamudra ), the other conferring boons. Her left hands hold a severed head and blood-covered sword. The sword severs the bondage of ignorance and ego ( tamas ), represented by the severed head. One interpretation of Kali's tongue is that the red tongue symbolizes the rajasic nature being conquered by the white (symbolizing sattvic ) nature of the teeth. Her blackness represents that she

1027-467: A patty on a wall, she stood in the alidha pose, with her right foot forward. When she saw Krishnananda watching her, she was embarrassed and put her tongue between her teeth, Agamavagisha realized that this was the divine form of maa kali he was looking for. Krishnananda Agamavagisha was also the guru of the Kali devotee and poet Ramprasad Sen . Samhara Kali, also called Vama Kali, is the embodiment of

1106-412: Is nirguna , beyond all qualities of nature, and transcendent. Kali's lolling tongue is interpreted as her being angry, enraged; while many in India interpret it as "biting the tongue" in shame. The most widespread interpretation of Kali's extended tongue involve her embarrassment over the sudden realization that she has stepped on her husband's chest. Kali's sudden "modesty and shame" over that act

1185-909: Is a corpse—unable to act. Kali could be considered a general concept, like Durga, and is primarily worshipped in the Kali Kula sect of worship. The closest way of direct worship is Maha Kali or Bhadrakali (Bhadra in Sanskrit means 'gentle'). Kali is worshipped as one of the 10 Mahavidya forms of Adi Parashakti. One mantra for worship to Kali is: सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ॐ जयंती मंगला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी । दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु‍ते ॥ Sarvamangal-māngalyē śivē sarvārthasādhikē. Śaraṇyē tryambakē Gauri nārāyaṇi namō'stu tē. Oṃ jayantī mangala kālī bhadrakālī kapālinī . Durgā kṣamā śivā dhātrī svāhā svadhā namō'stu‍tē. ॐ काली काली महाकाली कालिके परमेश्वरी । सर्वानन्दकरी देवी नारायणि नमोऽस्तुते ।। In fact, chanting of Mahishasura Mardhini

1264-497: Is a daily ritual in all Hindu Bengali homes especially during Navratri / Durga Pujo as it is called. The chant of the first chapter of Durga Saptashati is considered a very important hymn to Sri Mahakali as Devi Mahatmyam / Durga Saptashati dates back to the Upanishadic Era of Indological literature. Goddesses play an important role in the study and practice of Tantra Yoga, and are affirmed to be as central to discerning

1343-427: Is a devotional view. According to Rachel Fell McDermott, the poets portrayed Shiva as "the devotee who falls at [Kali's] feet in devotion, in the surrender of his ego, or in hopes of gaining moksha by her touch." In fact, Shiva is said to have become so enchanted by Kali that he performed austerities to win her, and having received the treasure of her feet, held them against his heart in reverence. The popularity of

1422-689: Is a major goddess in Hinduism , primarily associated with time, death and destruction. The origins of Kali can be traced to the pre-Vedic and Vedic era Goddess worship traditions in Ancient India . Kali is the first of the ten Mahavidyas in the Hindu tantric tradition and is the supreme deity in the Kalikula worship tradition. The first major appearance of Kali in the Sanskrit literature

1501-464: Is a regional form of Mahakali . Interpretations of the symbolic meanings of Kali's appearance vary depending on Tantric or devotional approach, and on whether one views her image in a symbolic, allegorical or mystical fashion. There are many varied depictions of the different forms of Kali. The most common form shows her with four arms and hands, showing aspects of both creation and destruction. The two right hands are often held out in blessing, one in

1580-451: Is because Kali likes devotees who have childlike qualities in them. The forehead of Kali is seen to be as luminous as the full moon and eternally giving out ambrosia. Kali is often shown standing with her right foot on Shiva's chest. This represents an episode where Kali was out of control on the battlefield, such that she was about to destroy the entire universe. Shiva pacified her by laying down under her foot to pacify and calm her. Shiva

1659-436: Is bounded by Meghalaya State of India on the north, Kanaighat and Golapganj upazilas on the south, Kanaighat Upazila on the east, Gowainghat and Sylhet Sadar Upazila on the west. The Jaflong Hills Range is located on the northeast of the upazila. According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh , Jaintiapur Upazila had 27,719 households and a population of 161,744. 49,914 (30.86%) were under 10 years of age. Jaintiapur had

SECTION 20

#1732773257430

1738-420: Is dark blue, gaunt with sunken eyes, wearing a tiger skin sari and a garland of human heads . She immediately defeats the two asuras. Later in the same battle, the asura Raktabija is undefeated because of his ability to reproduce himself from every drop of his blood that reaches the ground. Countless Raktabija clones appear on the battlefield. Kali eventually defeats him by sucking his blood before it can reach

1817-545: Is depicted as shining like a blue stone. She has ten faces, ten feet, and three eyes for each head. She has ornaments decked on all her limbs. There is no association with Shiva. The Kalika Purana describes Kali as "possessing a soothing dark complexion, as perfectly beautiful, riding a lion, four-armed, holding a sword and blue lotus, her hair unrestrained, body firm and youthful". Classic depictions of Kali share several features, as follows: Kali's most common four armed iconographic image shows each hand carrying variously

1896-408: Is distinct from kāla (black), but these became associated through popular etymology . Kali is then understood as "she who is the ruler of time", or "she who is black". Kālī is the goddess of time or death and the consort of Shiva. She is called Kali Mata ("the dark mother") and also kālī , which can be read here either as a proper name or as a description: "the dark (or black) one". Although

1975-401: Is often seen as blue in popular Indian art. Her eyes are described as red with intoxication and rage. Her hair is disheveled, small fangs sometimes protrude out of her mouth, and her tongue is lolling. Sometimes she dons a skirt made of human arms and a garland of human heads . Other times, she is seen wearing a tiger skin. She is also accompanied by serpents and a jackal while standing on

2054-649: Is sometimes considered as a greater form of Kali, identified with the Ultimate reality of Brahman . It can also be used as an honorific of the Goddess Kali, signifying her greatness by the prefix "Mahā-". Mahakali, in Sanskrit, is etymologically the feminized variant of Mahakala or Great Time (which is interpreted also as Death ), an epithet of the God Shiva in Hinduism. Mahakali is the presiding Goddess of

2133-405: Is sometimes shown with a blissful smile on his face. She is typically shown with a garland of severed heads, often numbering fifty. This can symbolize the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet and therefore as the primordial sound of Aum from which all creation proceeds. The severed arms which make up her skirt represent her devotee's karma that she has taken on. There are several interpretations of

2212-400: Is the prevalent interpretation among Odia Hindus . The biting of the tongue conveys the emotion of lajja or modesty, an expression that is widely accepted as the emotion being expressed by Kali. In Bengal also, Kali's protruding tongue is "widely accepted... as a sign of speechless embarrassment: a gesture very common among Bengalis." The twin earrings of Kali are small embryos. This

2291-419: Is typically shown with her right foot on Shiva 's chest—while depictions showing Kali with her left foot on Shiva's chest depict the even more fearsome Vamakali. Vamakali is usually worshipped by non-householders. The pose shows the conclusion of an episode in which Kali was rampaging out of control after destroying many demons. Vishnu confronted Kali in an attempt to cool her down. She was unable to see beyond

2370-541: The Devi Mahatmyam , Kali is depicted as being fierce, clad in a tiger's skin and armed with a sword and noose. She has deep, red eyes with tongue lolling out as she catches drops of Raktabīja's blood before they fall to the ground and create duplicates. Kali consumes Raktabīja and his duplicates, and dances on the corpses of the slain. In the Devi Mahatmya version of this story, Kali is also described as

2449-458: The Barak river Major Henniker led the first expedition to Jaintia in 1774. The quarries in their possession were the chief supplier of lime to the delta region of Bengal, but with the British, the contact was not very smooth, and they were attacked in the same year. Subsequently, the Jaintias were increasingly isolated from the plains via a system of forts as well as via regulation of 1799. In 1821,

Jaintiapur Upazila - Misplaced Pages Continue

2528-460: The Devas or Hindu Gods and are often the identifying weapon or ritual item of a given Deva. The implication is that Mahakali subsumes and is responsible for the powers that these deities possess and this is in line with the interpretation that Mahakali is identical with Brahman. While not displaying ten heads, an "ekamukhi" or one headed image may be displayed with ten arms, signifying the same concept:

2607-474: The Garo Hills . The other Khasi tribes did not have princes but their twenty petty states ( hima ), and sometimes even smaller tribal divisions, are led by one or two Chiefs -selected in various ways- usually styled Siem, Syiem . The names of these chieftainships are : Bhowal , Cherra (or Sohra; capital Cherrapunji ), Dwara (capital Hat Dwara ), Jirang , Khyri(e)m (capital Cherrapunjee, under

2686-478: The Jaintia Puriraj (Jaintiapuri Raj) pargana, Japhlang pargana, Chairkata pargana and Phaljur pargana. Puriraj had an area of 59.15 square metres and had a land revenue of £325 of 1875. Phaljur was 51.84 sqm and had a land revenue of £301. Chairkata was 37.88 square metres, consisted of 749 estates and land revenue of £276. Japhlang was 40.07 square metres, 342 estates and £279 land revenue. Though

2765-613: The Mahadevi . In the Mahanirvana-tantra , Kāli is one of the epithets for the primordial ṥakti , and in one passage Shiva praises her: At the dissolution of things, it is Kāla [Time] Who will devour all, and by reason of this He is called Mahākāla [an epithet of Lord Shiva], and since Thou devourest Mahākāla Himself, it is Thou who art the Supreme Primordial Kālika. Because Thou devourest Kāla, Thou art Kāli,

2844-458: The Matrikas , wound the demon Raktabīja , in various ways and with a variety of weapons in an attempt to destroy him. They soon find that they have worsened the situation for with every drop of blood that drips from Raktabīja, he reproduces a duplicate of himself. The battlefield becomes increasingly filled with his duplicates. Durga summons Kāli to combat the demons. This episode is described in

2923-412: The 232nd constituency, Sylhet-4 , and is administratively divided into six Union Parishads: Nijpat, Jaintiapur, Charikata, Darbast, Fatehpur, and Chiknagul UP. The upazila comprises 142 mouzas and 174 villages, providing a structured framework for local governance and community organization. Source: Jaintiapur Upazila is characterized by a diverse range of infrastructure and public services, catering to

3002-703: The British allowed the Jaintia king his rule north of the Surma River . The Jaintias kidnapped four British men in 1832. Three were sacrificed in the Great Hindu temple in Faljur , with one escaping and informing the British authorities of the atrocities. After the Jaintia Raja declined to find the culprits, the British finally marched to the Jaintia Kingdom and annexed it on 15 March 1835 The king

3081-477: The British threatened the Jaintia Raja that they would invade his territories if this does not stop. The Raja made an agreement in 1824 with David Scott that they will only negotiate with the British. A year later, the Jaintias attempted to continue their annual sacrifice which they had previously agreed with the British that they would stop. After the conclusion of the First Anglo-Burmese War ,

3160-723: The Faujdar of Sylhet that Jaintia was under his rule and that it is him that they will trade to. However, the Ahom rule in Jaintia was weak and short-lived. The Jaintias rebelled in their own land defeating the Ahom soldiers. Ram Singh, however, died as a captive to the Ahoms and his son, Jayo Narayan took over the Jaintia Kingdom. In 1757, the Nongkrem-Khynriam Khasi chief closed the Sonapur Duar, stopping trade between

3239-697: The Jainteswari temple area, 42 structures can be found, with 19 megaliths near the temple itself. Another eight structures are located near the Jaintiapur Shahid Minar area, while others lie in broken pieces. Additionally, five structures stand along the southern side of the Sylhet-Tamabil Road, with seven more located about one and a half kilometers from the temple, near the northern side of the Nayagang River. In 1971

Jaintiapur Upazila - Misplaced Pages Continue

3318-514: The Jaintia and Ahom kingdoms. An envoy of Jaintias assembled at Hajo where they informed the incident to Ahom Raja Suremphaa Swargadeo Rajeswar Singh who re-opened it for them. The British came into contact with the Jaintia kingdom upon receiving the Diwani of Bengal in 1765. Jaintiapur , currently in Bangladesh , was the capital. The kingdom extended from the hills into the plains north of

3397-617: The Jaintia kingdom was conquered by the king of Cooch Bihar. Later, it came under the governance of the Cachhar Raja. However, in 1605, with the assistance of the Ahom Raja, the Jaintia kingdom regained independence. King Lakshmi Narayan, a notable ruler from 1678 to1694, was renowned for constructing brick buildings in his capital, Jaintiapur. In 1765, the British East India Company ousted the Jaintia king from

3476-603: The Khasi until 1835. In 1707, Jaintia king Ram Singh kidnapped the Kachari Raja . The Raja of Cachar then informed Ahom Raja Rudra Singh Sukhrungphaa which led to the Ahoms attack through North Cachar and Jaintia Hills. Jaintia was annexed to the Ahoms and its capital city, Jaintiapur , was then raided by the Ahoms and thousands of innocent civilians were put to death or ears and noses were cut off. Sukhrungphaa then informed

3555-585: The Pakistani Army engaged in torture, genocide, and plundering; soldiers also set many houses of the upazila on fire. The Pakistani Army killed a number of innocent persons at the village of Hemo by strafing via fighter planes. Additionally, the Pakistani Army brutally killed 30 persons including the Khan Tea Garden workers. area 280.27 km, located in between 24'59' and 25'11' north latitudes and in between 92'03' and 92'14' east longitudes. It

3634-469: The Sanskritic traditions. Her most well-known appearance is on the battlefield in the sixth century text Devi Mahatmyam . The deity of the first chapter of Devi Mahatmyam is Mahakali, who appears from the body of sleeping Vishnu as goddess Yoga Nidra to wake him up in order to protect Brahma and the world from two asuras (demons), Madhu-Kaitabha . When Vishnu woke up he started a war against

3713-748: The Syiems). Above them is the former princely Jaintia Kingdom . The kingdom's former winter capital, Jaintiapur is now in Bangladesh , while its summer residence shifted from Sutnga (where the former princely family started as Syiems) to Nartiang ; also a palace in the commercial center Borghat in Meghalaya . The Jaintia Hills used to be a part of the Jaintia Hills District. The district has been bifurcated into two separate districts, namely, East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills on 31 July 2012. The Khasi Hills are located east of

3792-431: The calm and prostrate Shiva, usually right foot forward to symbolize the more popular dakṣiṇācāra ("right-hand path"), as opposed to the more infamous and transgressive vamachara ("left-hand path"). These serpents and jackals are shown to drink Raktabīja 's blood as it drips out of his head while the goddess carries the head in her hand, preventing it from falling on the ground. In the ten-armed form of Mahakali, she

3871-573: The consuming aspects of reality. As such, she is also a "forbidden thing", or even death itself. In the Pancatattva ritual, the sadhaka boldly seeks to confront Kali, and thereby assimilates and transforms her into a vehicle of salvation. This is clear in the work of the Karpuradi-stotra , short praise of Kāli describing the Pancatattva ritual unto her, performed on cremation grounds . ( Samahana-sadhana ); He, O Mahākāli who in

3950-631: The control of the Kamrup Kingdom , later transitioning to the rule of the Chandra and Varman rulers. Following the decline of the Varmans, the kingdom briefly came under the Deva dynasty's rule. The last ruler of this dynasty, Jayanta Roy, had a daughter named Joyonti, whose marriage to a Khasi chief's son led to the kingdom falling under Khasi rule around 1500. It remained an independent kingdom under

4029-500: The covering of Maya since she is pure ( nirguna ) being-consciousness-bliss and far above Prakriti. She is shown as very dark as she is Brahman in its supreme unmanifest state. She has no permanent qualities—she will continue to exist even when the universe ends. It is therefore believed that the concepts of color, light, good, and bad do not apply to her. Mahakali ( Sanskrit : Mahākālī, Devanagari : महाकाली, Bengali : মহাকালী, Gujarati : મહાકાળી), literally translated as "Great Kali",

SECTION 50

#1732773257430

4108-401: The cremation-ground, who wear skull garland and skirt of bones and with dishevelled hair, intently meditates upon Thee and recites Thy mantra, and with each recitation makes offering to Thee of a thousand Akanda flowers with seed, becomes without any effort a Lord of the earth. Oh Kāli, whoever on Tuesday at midnight, having uttered Thy mantra, makes offering even but once with devotion to Thee of

4187-450: The damage she had done, her blood-red tongue hung from her mouth, calming her down. In some interpretations of the story, Shiva was attempting to receive Kali's grace by receiving her foot on his chest. There are many different interpretations of the pose held by Dakshinakali, including those of the 18th and 19th-century bhakti poet-devotees such as Ramprasad Sen . Some have to do with battle imagery and tantric metaphysics. The most popular

4266-410: The distillation of divine wrath into a goddess of salvation, who rids the sadhaka of fear. Here, Kali appears as a symbol of triumph over death. Kali is a central figure in late medieval Bengal devotional literature, with such notable devotee poets as Kamalakanta Bhattacharya (1769–1821), Ramprasad Sen (1718–1775). With the exception of being associated with Parvati as Shiva 's consort, Kāli

4345-823: The east from the Khasi Hills. The twelve Chiefs of the elaka (tribal province) of the Pnars , a Khasi Sub-tribe are styled Dolloi , and the land is called after them in Khasi: KA RI KHADAR DOLLOI ('Land of 12 Tribal Chiefs') - they are in Nartiang itself (see the Raja, uniquely also styled, as premier Chief: U Kongsong ), and in Amwi , Jowai , Lakadong , Mynso , Nongbah , Nongjngi , Nongphyllut , Nongtalang , Raliang , Shangpung , Sutnga (see below;

4424-482: The economy is primarily driven by agriculture, which employs 53.38% of the population. Other significant sectors include commerce (12.60%), non-agricultural labor (10.32%), and services (4.71%). The distribution of employment across various sectors is as follows: Regarding land ownership, 48.95% of the residents are landowners, while 51.05% are landless. Among agricultural landowners, 52.53% are urban residents and 49.88% are rural residents. Jaintiapur Upazila falls under

4503-523: The first episode of the Devi Mahatmya . Here, she is depicted as Devi in her universal form as Shakti . Here Devi serves as the agent who allows the cosmic order to be restored. Kali is depicted in the Mahakali form as having ten heads, ten arms, and ten legs. Each of her ten hands is carrying a various implement which varies in different accounts, but each of these represents the power of one of

4582-456: The five elements. In union with Lord Shiva, she creates and destroys worlds. Her appearance also takes a different turn, befitting her role as ruler of the world and object of meditation. In contrast to her terrible aspects, she takes on hints of a more benign dimension. She is described as young and beautiful, has a gentle smile, and makes gestures with her two right hands to dispel any fear and offer boons. The more positive features exposed offer

4661-488: The gift given to a priest before performing a ritual or to one's guru. Such gifts are traditionally given with the right hand. Dakshinakali's two right hands are usually depicted in gestures of blessing and giving of boons. One version of the origin of her name comes from the story of Yama , lord of death, who lives in the south ( dakshina ). When Yama heard Kali's name, he fled in terror, and so those who worship Kali are said to be able to overcome death itself. Dakshinakali

4740-573: The ground, and eating the numerous clones. Kinsley writes that Kali represents "Durga's personified wrath, her embodied fury". Other origin stories involve Parvati and Shiva. Parvati is typically portrayed as a benign and friendly goddess. The Linga Purana describes Shiva asking Parvati to defeat the asura Daruka , who received a boon that would only allow a female to kill him. Parvati merges with Shiva's body, reappearing as Kali to defeat Daruka and his armies. Her bloodlust gets out of control, only calming when Shiva intervenes. The Vamana Purana has

4819-459: The limitless power of her rage and Vishnu had to move out of her way. Seeing this the devas became more fearful, afraid that in her rampage, Kali would not stop until she destroyed the entire universe. Shiva saw only one solution to prevent Kali's endless destruction. Shiva lay down on the battlefield so that Goddess Mahakali would have to step on him. When she saw her consort under her foot, Kali realized that she had gone too far. Filled with grief for

SECTION 60

#1732773257430

4898-483: The nature of reality as are the male deities. Although Parvati is often said to be the recipient and student of Shiva 's wisdom in the form of Tantras , it is Kali who seems to dominate much of the Tantric iconography, texts, and rituals. In many sources Kāli is praised as the highest reality or greatest of all deities. The Nirvana-tantra says the gods Brahma , Vishnu , and Shiva all arise from her like bubbles in

4977-628: The needs of its residents. Source: The average literacy rate in Jaintiapur Upazila stands at 35.11%, with a male literacy rate of 39.51% and a female literacy rate of 30.34%. Jaintiapur Rajbari, Jaintiapur Hill Resort, Sreepur Tea Garden, Lalakhal Tea Garden, Saytreast Research Centers, 8 No Mountain, Haripur Utlar Hill, Haripur Black Mountain, Lalakhal Tea Estate, Nazimgarh Wilderness Resorts, Lalakhal, Shari-Goyain River. Khasi and Jaintia Hills The Khasi and Jaintia Hills are

5056-740: The original form of all things, and because of Thou art the Origin of and devourest all things Thou art called the Adya [the Primordial One]. Re-assuming after Dissolution Thine own form, dark and formless, Thou alone remainest as One ineffable and inconceivable. Though having a form, yet art Thou formless; though Thyself without beginning, multiform by the power of Maya, Thou art the Beginning of all, Creatrix, Protectress, and Destructress that Thou art. The figure of Kāli conveys death, destruction, and

5135-599: The plains of Sylhet. The kingdom's independence was further compromised when the Burmese conquered Assam in 1824, though it was briefly restored in 1825 after the British expelled the Burmese. Eventually, in 1835, the East India Company annexed the Jaintia kingdom to their Bengal state to facilitate trade. According to local legends and folk tales, from the 7th or 8th century, the Jaintiapur kingdom fell under

5214-507: The power of destruction. The chief goddess of Tantric texts, Samhara Kali is the most dangerous and powerful form of Kali. Samhara Kali takes form when Kali steps out with her left foot holding her sword in her right hand. She is the Kali of death, destruction and is worshipped by tantrics. As Samhara Kali she gives death and liberation. According to the Mahakala Samhita, Samhara Kali is two armed and black in complexion. She stands on

5293-421: The powers of the various Gods come only through her grace . The name Mahakali , when kali is rendered to mean "black", translates to Japanese as Daikoku (大黒) . Dakshinakali is the most popular form of Kali in Bengal. She is the benevolent mother, who protects her devotees and children from mishaps and misfortunes. There are various versions for the origin of the name Dakshinakali . Dakshina refers to

5372-630: The region to maintain independence for an extended period, known as the Jaintia Kingdom. Jaintia, also known as the Sutnga kingdom, was an ancient hill kingdom in Meghalaya. By the 16th century, much of the greater Sylhet region fell under the jurisdiction of the Jaintia king, who ruled from the capital, Jaintiapur. The Khasi people , who inhabited the area, lived in a matriarchal society and spoke their own language. Around 1500, King Prabhat Ray Syiem Sutnga adopted his Sanskrit name. Between 1548 and 1564,

5451-446: The remains of their royal palace can still be seen scattered across the town. Pan, Pani Nari—these three make Jaintapuri. That's the opening line of a popular rhyme often used by Sylhetis to encapsulate Jaintiapur, a historically rich upazila of Sylhet. Long ago, this land was likely submerged under water, forming part of a vast water body that separated Jaintiapur from Sylhet, as historians suggest. This unique geographical setup allowed

5530-551: The remnants of Jaintiapur, including the Jainteswari temple, the Rajbari (palace), and various monuments, still attract visitors, they are now quite dilapidated. The palace, built by King Lakshmi Sinha in 1680, lies in ruins, and the temple has suffered significant damage, despite having a boundary wall. Notably, the lone megalithic remains discovered in Bangladesh are located in Jaintiapur, similar to those found in India. Around

5609-402: The right) are in the abhaya (fearlessness) and varada (blessing) mudras , which means her initiated devotees (or anyone worshipping her with a true heart) will be saved as she will guide them here and in the hereafter. This is the form of Dakshina Kali. She wears a garland of human heads , variously enumerated at 108 (an auspicious number in Hinduism and the number of countable beads on

5688-594: The sea, ceaselessly arising and passing away, leaving their original source unchanged. The Niruttara-tantra and the Picchila-tantra declare all of Kāli's mantras to be the greatest and the Yogini-tantra , Kamakhya-tantra and the Niruttara-tantra all proclaim Kāli vidyas (manifestations of Mahadevi , or "divinity itself"). They declare her to be an essence of her own form ( svarupa ) of

5767-690: The symbolism behind the commonly represented image of Kali standing on Shiva's supine form. A common interpretation is that Shiva symbolizes purusha , the universal unchanging aspect of reality, or pure consciousness. Kali represents Prakriti , nature or matter, sometimes seen as having a feminine quality of creation of life. The merging of these two qualities represent ultimate reality. A tantric interpretation sees Shiva as consciousness and Kali as power or energy. Consciousness and energy are dependent upon each other, since Shiva depends on Shakti, or energy, in order to fulfill his role in creation, preservation, and destruction. In this view, without Shakti, Shiva

5846-493: The two asuras. After a long battle with Vishnu, the two demons were undefeated and Mahakali took the form of Mahamaya to enchant the two asuras. When Madhu and Kaitabha were enchanted by Mahakali, Vishnu killed them. In later chapters, the story of two asuras who were destroyed by Kali can be found. Chanda and Munda attack the goddess Kaushiki . Kaushiki responds with such anger that it causes her face to turn dark, resulting in Kali appearing out of her forehead. Kali's appearance

5925-549: The ultimate reality or Brahman . She is also seen as the divine protector and bestower of moksha (liberation). Worshipped throughout South Asia but particularly in Nepal, Southern India, Bengal, and Assam, Kali is a central figure in the goddess-centric traditions of Hinduism as well as in Shaivism . The term Kali is derived from Kala , which is mentioned quite differently in Sanskrit . The homonym kālá (time)

6004-704: The word Kālī appears as early as the Atharva Veda , the first use of it as a proper name is in the Kathaka Grhya Sutra (19.7). Kali originated as a tantric and non-Vedic goddess. Her roots are most probably connected to the Pre-Aryan period. According to Indologist Wendy Doniger , Kali's origins can be traced to the deities of the Pre-Vedic village, tribal, and mountain cultures of South Asia who were gradually appropriated and transformed by

6083-470: The worship of the Dakshinakali form of Goddess Kali is often attributed to Krishnananda Agamavagisha . He was a noted 17th-century Bengali Tantra thinker and author of Tantrasara . Devi Kali reportedly appeared to him in a dream and told him to popularize her in a particular form that would appear to him the following day. The next morning he observed a young woman making cow dung patties. While placing

6162-462: Was handed over his property in Sylhet along with a monthly salary of Rs 500. The British administered the plain areas directly and the hill region indirectly via a system of fifteen dolois and four sardars . The fifteen administrators were free to adjudicate on all but the most heinous crimes. Jaintia continued to exist though divided into pargana or fiscal division, within greater Sylhet such as

6241-528: Was in the sixth-century CE text Devi Mahatmya . Kali appears in numerous stories, with her most famous being when she sprang from the goddess Durga 's fury to defeat the demon Raktabija . She is stated to destroy evil and defend the innocent. Kali is worshipped as the Divine Mother, Mother of the Universe, and Divine feminine energy . Shakta and Tantric sects additionally worship Kali as

#429570