Who is Kali? Is Kali meat eater? Why are there controversies?

Can Kali be depicted as a smoker? Leena Manimekalai, an Indian filmmaker based in Canada, has created controversy around insulting Hindu mother Goddess Kaali and debate about freedom of expression. As Kaali is the most misunderstood form of the Hindu Goddess, an attempt is made to explain the significance of the symbolism behind Kaali and why it should not be changed without a deep understanding of its spiritual significance. Is it ok to depict Kali as a smoker especially since we have seen her ferocious forms and she had tong out and carrying garlands of severed heads? Before we answer this question, we need to understand what does Kali represent? Kali is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Kaal” meaning time. Hindu religion tells us that this world is a “Maya” created by the illusion of time and space. We are part of the omnipresent consciousness (Sat, Chit and Anand); but due to the illusion, we have forgotten our true nature of bliss and are trapped in the cycle of birth and death and hence causing suffering for humankind. Kaali has many avatars and symbolizes the universal manifested energy while Shiva is the unmanifested consciousness. Kaali is representing the mother nature that creates, preserves and destroys also represented by Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra. In the context of time, the past belongs to Rudra, the present is with Vishnu and the future is with Brahma. So, every moment, there is creation, preservation, and destruction. To overcome the illusion of time and space, the devotees worship Kaali. Kaali is shown with the garland of heads symbolizing the victory of self over different identities as heads represent the ego. Ego creates separateness from the universal consciousness, and we forget that we are created in the image of God. Kaali can devour all the lust and the need for sense gratification and purify the mind to realize the ultimate Shiva consciousness. Shiva and Kaali are unmanifested and manifested parts of the consciousness and one can not exist without the other. Kaali symbolism can only be understood by yogis and the devotees who worship her as mother. Since her depictions have deep spiritual significance, without devotion and yogic knowledge, no one can understand the true nature of Kaali. We should not try to change the original representations shown by the advanced yogis. So, yes mother Kaali loves you all; but you do not want to invoke her destructive energy by playing with the fire.