Thread by @Lavishly_cursed

Have you ever seen kids fighting over small things, like whose father is the best? Isn't it cute and stupid at the same time? Mature people know that every father has the same emotion and love for their own kids. Well, same thing goes for those who fight over Vishnu and Mahamaya.

In Bengal, Krishna and Kaali are often worshipped together, in the form of "Krishna-Kaali". Here is a picture of a Krishna-Kaali idol. Beautiful, isn't it?

Shakti upasana had always been a very important part of Bengal's culture. Durga pooja and Kaali pooja are still our most important festivals. (It's said that we Bengalies have 13 festivals in 12 months, i.e., "baaro maashe tero paarbon") But you've to remember that

Vishwambhar Misra, popularly known as Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the chief proponent of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and Achintya Bheda Abheda, the mystic who expounded the Vaishnava school of Bhakti Yoga based on the Bhagabat Puraan, and the one who popularized the chanting of

the "Hare Krishna" naam mantra, was originally from Bengal and he started his Bhakti movement in Bengal only.

Let me tell you this story from Mahabhagavatam. In a previous kalpa, namely the Swetalohita kalpa, Kaali had incarnated as Krishna and Shiva took birth as Rajrajeswari Shree Raadhika. (A Bhavani-Shankara samvad, again :))

One day at Kailasha, when Kaali and Shiva were sitting leisurely enjoying each other's company, Shiva thought "I love Kaali so much. I know she loves me too. But how does it feel to be a woman and being loved by a man?" He requested to Kaali "dear, will you make one of my wishes

come true?" Kaali turned her face towards Shiva with a grin on her lips and said, "anything for your happiness, dear!" Shiva said "then incarnate on Earth as a man and allow me to take birth as a woman, let our love bloom again with the same emotions, same depth, just different

genders. Overjoyed to hear this, Kaali said "Shambhu! I will take birth in Vasudev's household as Krishna. But you also have to take birth as a woman." Shankar replied "I will incarnate as Vrishbhanu's daughter and also take birth as eight beautiful ladies who will assist you in

future, as your wives." Then Kaali said, "my companions, Jaya and Vijaya, will take birth as Shridaam and Sudaam, two of my dearest friends. Along with Vishnu I have slayed thousands of Asuras in past. They, in the course of time, will again take birth as cruel kings

who will deviate from the path of Dharma. Earth will be tired of their continuous torture. People will be frustrated. Earth (Dharitree) will come to Brahma, who'll in turn come to Kailasha to request me to punish and destroy those sinners once again. I'll incarnate as Shyam

and my foster parents will be Nanda and Yashoda, who will be none other than Daksha and Prasuti, who were my parents when I took birth as Sati. To make sure that my Kaali-sattvaa remains hidden, I'll assume shankha, chakra, gada and Padma in my Divine form; featuring the

iconography of Vishnu and I'll slay Kamsa. Again, Vishnu will partly incarnate as Arjun, son of Pandu. His chief wife Draupadi will be Shakti-kalpa, i.e., partly my incarnation. Since those cunning kings in their previous births as various Asuras had been slayed by my feminine

form and hence got blessed by me, I won't pick up any weapons against them. Yet, due to the effect of my Maya, they'll fight and kill themselves and none but the Pandavas and their wife will remain alive." Shambhu was glad to listen these words of Kaali.

Krishna is Shyam. Kaali is Shyamaa.

Radha, Krishna's main consort, had been described as "tapta-kanchana gaurangee" which means "someone who is as fair as hot gold". Shiva is also also said to be "Karpura-gauraang"-- as fair as camphor.

Earlier, Kaali transformed Shiva and

taught him love. Now Radha transformed Krishna and taught him love.

Kaali had transformed the Shiva's Taandav into Lasya. Raadhika had transformed Krishna's dance into Maharasa-mandala.

Just like Radha and Krishna, Parvati and Maheshwar also experienced some of the

most unique forms of Divine love.

Two more folklores associated with this and some more facts will be covered in tomorrow's thread. Till then, be happy. Have a great day! ☺️✌️