Meaning of Kali (Hindu mo) tattoos

Kali is a Hindu goddess who personifies three aspects of the cosmic act: creation, preservation, and annihilation. She is considered the master of death, time, and change. She represents destruction and rebirth, for everything must one day end in order to have a new beginning.

According to belief, she is always near to warn us of some closure in our lives, but this is not negative, since she is the force of renewal. She is commonly represented in black or blue, with her face stained with blood, four or eight arms carrying weapons of gods and a necklace of human skulls.

Her first appearance happened when the Hindu gods united in search of a "super being" to defeat their enemies, since Kali destroys evil to protect the innocent. The goddess became so involved in the battle that she began to destroy everything within her reach. Shiva threw herself at her feet in an attempt to stop her, and the strategy worked. The goddess was so startled by this, she stuck out her tongue in amazement.

Although she is recognized as a "dark mother" or "devouring mother", she is much loved by devotees as a protective mother. The person who has a mature soul and is free of ego receives the image of an affectionate and sweet goddess. Those who are attached to the ego feel fear, because the ego sees its own death when looking at the goddess.