Goddess Kalika is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti.
She is believed to be Uma or Goddess Parvati. Her story is found in the Kalika
Purana. Legend has it that Goddess Kalika performed intense meditation and
austerity for several years to get Shiva as Her husband.
Goddess Kalika was a reincarnation of Goddess Sati, Shiva’s
wife who self immolated at Daksha Yajna.
In her reincarnation, Goddess Kalika was the daughter of Menaka and Himalaya, the king of mountains.
In her reincarnation, Goddess Kalika was the daughter of Menaka and Himalaya, the king of mountains.
Sage Narada informed Kalika about her true identity and
asked her to take only Shiva as her husband.
He asked her to chant the mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and constantly meditate on Shiva.
He asked her to chant the mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and constantly meditate on Shiva.
Kalika told her parents her intention to marry Shiva and her
decision to go to forest and perform austerities.
The parents had to reluctantly accept her decision.
It is said that so intense was Goddess Kalika’s meditation
that she wore tree bark for clothing, and ate only fruit, later only leaves
fallen from trees. She meditated upon Shiva while sitting in the midst of five
fires – four fires around her on the ground and the Sun.
Finally, She ate nothing and stood on one foot chanting Om
Namah Shivaya.
Eventually, Shiva appeared before her and took her as his
wife.
The concept of Goddess Kalika and her meditation is more
famous in eastern parts of India especially in Bengal.