From the Great Goddess to Kala
By Jean Przyluski
Summary
This essay investigates the Sanskrit terms kala and Kali, exploring whether they constitute two distinct words—one meaning 'black' and the other 'time' or 'fate'—or different senses of a single root. Dictionaries give kala the senses of dark blue or black and time or death; Kali is an epithet of Durga. The author surveys Vedic hymns, Puranic myths and Tantric texts to see how these meanings overlap. Some scholars propose that kala derives from the Dravidian kar ('black'), which, if correct, would make the philosophical notion of time non‑Aryan in origin. The article analyses mythic figures such as Kali, the terrible goddess associated with the end of the world, and Kalki, the apocalyptic avatar of Viṣṇu whose name has been interpreted either as 'white' (from karka) or 'black.' The author argues that the association with blackness and the Kali age points to a single etymological root, connecting colour symbolism with eschatological time. Indian dualism is highlighted: the destructive black serpent contrasts with the salvific white horse, yet both ultimately merge in a universal deity. The study concludes that the words' evolution reflects broader shifts in Indian cosmology and religious thought.
Conclusion
The exploration of kala/Kali shows that Indian religious thought intertwines colour symbolism with cosmological time. Whether derived from Indo‑Aryan or Dravidian roots, the blackness of Kali and the fatality of kala converge to personify cosmic dissolution and transformation. The dual imagery of black serpent and white horse underscores the polarity between destruction and salvation that structures Indian eschatology. Understanding these linguistic and mythological connections enriches our comprehension of how Sanskrit terms evolved from concrete physical descriptors into profound theological concepts.