History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.2312

v6.c81.2312

*Harikālīvrata*—on 3rd tithi of Bh. śu. worship of Kālī on the sprouts of seven dhānyas sown in a winnowing basket, it is carried at night by women whose husbands are alive to a reservoir of water and discharged therein; HV I. 435-439 (from Bhav. U. 20 1-28). The story is that Kālī was daughter of Dakṣa, was given in marriage to Mahādeva and was dark in complexion Once in an assembly of gods Mahādeva called her as dark as collyrium She was angered, left her complexion on a grassy plot and threw herself into fire. She was born again as Gaurī and became Mahādeva's wife The dark complexion laid aside by Kālī became Kātyāyanī, who helped gods in their undertakings The gods bestowed on her the boon that those men or women who would worship Kālī existing in green grass would have happiness, long life and saubhāgya. The printed HV labels it Harikālī, but no question about Hari (meaning Viṣṇu) arises here. Hari here probably simply means 'tawny' (i. e. Kālī who was once brown or tawny and not fair).