Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 464: Shri Kalakanti (ōṃ kālakaṇṭhyai namaḥ)

In Namams 381 to 474, the Divine Mother’s Jnana Yoga worship methods are discussed in detail. 

The Divine Mother is the spouse of Lord Shiva. 

When the ocean of milk was churned for nectar, the first thing to emerge was halahala poison. No one wanted to receive it, as it would burn down the world, if any part of it fell on the ground. Both the Devas and Asuras were equally terrified by the poison. There in, Lord Shiva received that worst poison without any hesitation and swallowed it. The Divine Mother, Parvati panicked at the sight of it, and She held Lord Shiva’s throat to stop the poison from descending. The poison stopped at the Lord’s throat, and He became Kalakanda (dark-throated) or Nilakanda. 

Kalakanthi also means that the Divine Mother has a sweet throat (voice) The Divine Mother’s voice is divinely sweet. (Earlier Namam 27); the controlled sound from the throat is called KalKandam. Very feeble or very loud sound from the throat is not praiseworthy. The controlled sound from the throat is very pleasing to hear. The Divine Mother for ever has the controlled sweet voice; She is called Kalakanti. Depending on circumferences, lowering or raising the voice is essential. The devotees must learn this attribute from the Divine Mother, kalakanti. 

According to Devi Purana Kalanjara is one of the sixty-eight holy places in India. The Goddess deity there is kalakanthi. Linga Purana says that the Divine Mother took the form of Kali, Kapardini and Kalakanthi to kill the demon called Daruka.  Kalika Devi is also called Kalakanthi. 

Lord Shiva as Kalakanta and his spouse Kalaknthi are one and the same. The one with dark-throat is Kalakanda. The one who goes in evil ways, suffers his disgrace. But the Lord Shiva took the poison and he is praised for his great deed to save the world. For this sacrifice, he became black coloured, which is to his credit. When we praise Him and His spouse Arthanarisvari and also, She is the Kalakanti, the universal Mother, also gets praised.

        The Divine Mother Kalakanti, the spouse of Kalakanda. 

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 03 May 2021.

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, San Ramon, California, USA, with Commentary by T. V Narayana Menon

2.       Shri Lalitha Sahasranama Stostram published in Tamil by N. Ramaswami Iyer charities’ societies, Trichirapalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Chithbavandar