It is a night with no stars visible due to heavy cloud cover. A powerful storm is raging with roaring winds that contain the souls of millions of escaped lunatics tearing trees from their roots. The sea has also joined the frenzy, kicking up huge waves trying to reach the dark sky. Flashes of fearful light reveal thousands of deadly black shades spreading sorrow and despair as they dance madly with joy. The poet prays to Mother Kali, a terrible yet powerful goddess, to come and put an end to the monstrous situation.

1. Kali the motherKali the mother
Name : Shranti Sitaram HakeName : Shranti Sitaram Hake
Class : M. A. 2Class : M. A. 2ndnd
Roll no : 3057Roll no : 3057
College : S. M. Joshi College, HadapsarCollege : S. M. Joshi College, Hadapsar
PunePune
Guided by : Dhumal
Sir
Swami Vivekanand

2. IntroductionIntroduction
During the period from 1897 to 1899, VivekanandDuring the period from 1897 to 1899, Vivekanand
travelled in north India. In 1898, he went totravelled in north India. In 1898, he went to
Kashmir. There he stayed at a houseboat on DalKashmir. There he stayed at a houseboat on Dal
Lake. After visiting the Kheer Bhawani templeLake. After visiting the Kheer Bhawani temple
near Shrinagar, Vivekanand wrote the presentnear Shrinagar, Vivekanand wrote the present
poem. In this poem, Vivekanand worships thepoem. In this poem, Vivekanand worships the
terrible form of the goddess. By doing so, the poetterrible form of the goddess. By doing so, the poet
glorifies the goddess Kali who is associated withglorifies the goddess Kali who is associated with
empowerment. The poet reveals the fact that theempowerment. The poet reveals the fact that the
whole universe is the stage for the terrible and thewhole universe is the stage for the terrible and the
frenzied dance of the Goddess. The poem veryfrenzied dance of the Goddess. The poem very
much influenced Subhash Chandra Bose andmuch influenced Subhash Chandra Bose and
Shri. Aurobindo. Influenced by the poem, dr. S.Shri. Aurobindo. Influenced by the poem, dr. S.
Radhakrishnan said:Radhakrishnan said:

3. Kali the MotherKali the Mother
The stars are blotted out,The stars are blotted out,
The clouds are coveringThe clouds are covering
clouds,clouds,
It is darkness vibrant,It is darkness vibrant,
sonant.sonant.
In the roaring, whirlingIn the roaring, whirling
windwind
Are the souls of aAre the souls of a
million lunaticsmillion lunatics
Just loose from theJust loose from the
prison-house,prison-house,
Wrenching trees by theWrenching trees by the
roots,roots,
Sweeping all from theSweeping all from the
The sea has joined theThe sea has joined the
fray,fray,
And swirls upAnd swirls up
mountain-waves,mountain-waves,
To reach the pitchyTo reach the pitchy
sky.sky.
The flash of luridThe flash of lurid
lightlight
Reveals on every sideReveals on every side
A thousand, thousandA thousand, thousand
shadesshades
Of death begrimedOf death begrimed
and blackand black

4. SummarySummary
It is night time and stars are blottedIt is night time and stars are blotted
out as there is rush of clouds in theout as there is rush of clouds in the
sky. The darkness is vibrant thesky. The darkness is vibrant the
whirls of the wind are roaring .In thewhirls of the wind are roaring .In the
wind ,are the souls of millionwind ,are the souls of million
lunatics which seem to be let looselunatics which seem to be let loose
from prison .They wrench trees fromfrom prison .They wrench trees from
the roots .The uprooted trees then arethe roots .The uprooted trees then are
sweeped away from the path .The seasweeped away from the path .The sea
has reached its shore .The sea waveshas reached its shore .The sea waves

5. There is flash of fearful light on both the sides of theThere is flash of fearful light on both the sides of the
road. Thousands of deadly black shades are revealedroad. Thousands of deadly black shades are revealed
thought the flash. They spread sorrow and despair.thought the flash. They spread sorrow and despair.
They dance madly with joy. Mother Kali needs toThey dance madly with joy. Mother Kali needs to
come here to stop everything and bring end to thecome here to stop everything and bring end to the
monstrous things.monstrous things.
Mother Kali is able to fight with the evil powers. ThisMother Kali is able to fight with the evil powers. This
is because she herself is very terrible. She canis because she herself is very terrible. She can
destroy all monstrous beings. The poet says:destroy all monstrous beings. The poet says:
““for terror is Thy name,for terror is Thy name,
death is in thy breath’’.death is in thy breath’’.

6. Every moving step of the Goddess canEvery moving step of the Goddess can
destroy the world of the evil. She isdestroy the world of the evil. She is
the “Time” which destroys all. Such athe “Time” which destroys all. Such a
powerful mother is needed to end thepowerful mother is needed to end the
evil power. The poet prays Goddessevil power. The poet prays Goddess
Kali to come on the earth. Kali theKali to come on the earth. Kali the
Mother definitely comes to save oneMother definitely comes to save one
who is in misery and in the embracewho is in misery and in the embrace
of Death. Kali the Mother helps thoseof Death. Kali the Mother helps those
who are threatened by destruction.who are threatened by destruction.

7. Critical commentsCritical comments
““ Kali the Mother” is a highly religious poem. It isKali the Mother” is a highly religious poem. It is
in praise of Kali, the mother. The poem is full ofin praise of Kali, the mother. The poem is full of
images such as ‘stars’, ‘clouds’ wind’ ‘trees’, ‘sea-images such as ‘stars’, ‘clouds’ wind’ ‘trees’, ‘sea-
waves’ ‘the sky’ ‘Death’ and of the ‘Mother’waves’ ‘the sky’ ‘Death’ and of the ‘Mother’
herself. The poem contains metaphoricalherself. The poem contains metaphorical
expression: “for Terror is thy name”. Similes alsoexpression: “for Terror is thy name”. Similes also
are abundant here. The poet compares the powerfulare abundant here. The poet compares the powerful
Goddess with Death. Personification also is foundGoddess with Death. Personification also is found
in the poem. The wind, the sea and Death arein the poem. The wind, the sea and Death are
personified. The poet’s devotion to the Goddesspersonified. The poet’s devotion to the Goddess
also finds expression. Above all. The poem isalso finds expression. Above all. The poem is
highly meaningful. The poet stands for all thehighly meaningful. The poet stands for all the
Hindus who worship the Goddess as all powerful.Hindus who worship the Goddess as all powerful.