Page:Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic.djvu/343

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE VEDIC DEITIES.
319

In the “Adhyatma"[1] Rāmāyana,"[2] is a legend giving quite a different origin of Kāli; the object of the writer evidently being to enhance the glory of Sita, by showing that Kāli was but a form that she had assumed. On Rāma's return from the destruction of Rāvana, he was boasting of his prowess, when Sita smiled and said, “You rejoice because you have slain

KALI.

with ten heads, but what would you say to a Rāvana with a thousand ?""Destroy him too,” said Rāma. Sita advised him to remain at home; but he collected his army of monkeys, and with his wife and brothers

  1. There are four recensions of the Ramayana : Valmiki's Vyasadeva's, the Adhuta, and the Adhyatma.
  2. Ward, ii, 116.