facing kali
Kolkata, October 2001. This was taken after visiting Kalighat, the parochial temple of Kali around which the modern city of Kolkata was built. Kalighat is notoriously chaotic, but Kathryn thought it was great. She promptly incorporated Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and destruction, into her personal mythology.
That was not such a strange choice as it might seem - Kali stands for fierce motherhood as well as creative destruction - and her protection is a desirable attribute. Various pujas were made to Kali during the course of our marriage, particularly after Kathryn started chemotherapy, whose purpose is to cure illness through purgation and destruction.
Kathryn wanted to give her medical oncologist her effigy of Kali. I intend to respect that wish.
facing kali
Kolkata, October 2001. This was taken after visiting Kalighat, the parochial temple of Kali around which the modern city of Kolkata was built. Kalighat is notoriously chaotic, but Kathryn thought it was great. She promptly incorporated Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and destruction, into her personal mythology.
That was not such a strange choice as it might seem - Kali stands for fierce motherhood as well as creative destruction - and her protection is a desirable attribute. Various pujas were made to Kali during the course of our marriage, particularly after Kathryn started chemotherapy, whose purpose is to cure illness through purgation and destruction.
Kathryn wanted to give her medical oncologist her effigy of Kali. I intend to respect that wish.