Why did Ramakrishna cut Kali into pieces?
SPIRITUALITY
Sahil Sharma
10/29/20232 min read
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, one of the most revered spiritual figures in India's modern history, lived a life marked by intense devotion and a profound spiritual journey. His unwavering dedication to the Goddess Kali is a testament to his deep spirituality and his relentless pursuit of divine realization.
Ramakrishna's devotion to Kali was not a mere religious practice; it was a living reality for him. To him, Kali was not a distant deity but a vibrant and immediate presence in his life. He believed that Kali danced in front of him, partook of offerings from his own hands, responded to his calls, and left him in states of divine ecstasy. These experiences were not hallucinations but, for Ramakrishna, genuine interactions with the divine.
His consciousness was so finely attuned that he could manifest Kali's presence at will. It was a beautiful and awe-inspiring state for a human being to be in. However, even in the midst of this profound devotion and ecstasy, Ramakrishna sensed that his ecstasy could be a kind of spiritual bondage. He felt an inner longing to transcend even this elevated state.
One day, a rare and accomplished yogi named Totapuri crossed paths with Ramakrishna. Totapuri recognized the immense potential within Ramakrishna and his capacity to achieve enlightenment. However, Ramakrishna's deep attachment to his devotion, specifically to Kali, presented a significant obstacle.
Ramakrishna's sole focus was on Kali. When in her divine presence, he would be consumed by ecstasy, dancing and singing. When the connection was momentarily lost, he would cry like a child longing for his mother. Totapuri attempted to persuade him to move beyond his devotion, but Ramakrishna's heart was firmly set on Kali. His childlike devotion was beyond reason, and it was impossible to sway him.
Nevertheless, Ramakrishna respected Totapuri's spiritual presence and was willing to sit before him. Totapuri discerned that Ramakrishna's emotional and physical faculties were empowered, but his awareness remained underdeveloped. Totapuri's guidance was simple: "Empower your awareness."
Ramakrishna agreed to this guidance and promised to sit with empowered awareness. However, the moment he had a vision of Kali, he would become immersed in uncontrollable states of love and ecstasy, repeatedly failing to maintain his empowered awareness.
Totapuri then proposed a radical solution. He told Ramakrishna that when Kali next appeared, he must take a sword and cut her into pieces. Ramakrishna, surprised, asked where he could find a sword.
Totapuri's response was profound: "From the same place you get Kali. If you can create a goddess, why can't you create a sword? You have that power within you."
Ramakrishna sat down once more. When Kali appeared in his vision and he was on the verge of ecstasy, Totapuri took a piece of glass and, in a dramatic gesture, cut Ramakrishna deeply across his forehead. It was in that moment that Ramakrishna's awakened awareness enabled him to create the metaphorical sword and cut Kali down, freeing himself from the captivating and ecstatic bond with the Mother Goddess.
This profound and transformative experience marked the moment when Ramakrishna truly became a Paramahamsa, signifying a fully enlightened being. Prior to this, he had been a lover, a devotee, a child to the Mother Goddess that he had created with such devotion and intensity.
Ramakrishna's spiritual journey, characterized by his deep devotion to Kali and his ultimate liberation through the guidance of Totapuri, continues to inspire seekers of truth and serves as a profound example of the limitless possibilities within the human spiritual experience.