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Why Goddess Kali Is Known As Mundamalini?

Goddess Kali is often depicted as adorned with a garland of severed heads, which symbolizes her role as the destroyer of ego and ignorance. The term "Mundamalini" originates from the Sanskrit word "Munda," which refers to the decapitated head of a human being, and "Malini," which means garlanded or adorned. Thus, "Mundamalini" literally translates to "adorned with decapitated heads."

This epithet highlights Kali's fierce and terrifying aspect, as well as her representation of time, change, and the cyclical nature of existence. The garland of heads also signifies the triumph of divine consciousness over the limitations of the human ego and the transient nature of physical form. Kali's association with Mundamalini emphasizes her role as a goddess who liberates her devotees from attachment to the material world and guides them toward spiritual realization and enlightenment.

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