Sahasranama position 387 of the 1,072 names

Rakta-Dantika

रक्त-दंतिका

Rakta-Daṃtikā

What Rakta-Dantika means

Rakta-Dantika is name 387 in the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama, the 1,072-name devotional text to Maa Kali. The Red-toothed One, tearing asunder the forces of evil with her fearsome visage.

Also spelled

  • Rakta-Damtika
  • Source transliteration: RAKTA-DANTIKA

Sanskrit names travel into English in several romanizations. This page keeps the common spelling, the IAST form, and the source transliteration together so the same name is discoverable under each spelling readers use.

Meaning and elaboration

Meaning: The Red-toothed One, tearing asunder the forces of evil with her fearsome visage.

Elaboration

The name Rakta-Dantika means "She who has red teeth." This fierce yet protective form of Mahakali reveals her uncompromising power to destroy evil and uphold cosmic order.

The Symbolism of Red Teeth The red of her teeth symbolizes blood, especially the blood of the asuras (demons) and destructive beings she has vanquished. The image is not meant to provoke fear for its own sake. It declares her victory over evil and her unyielding strength. In this form, she stands as the warrior goddess who purifies the cosmos by destroying forces that oppose dharma.

Tearing Asunder Evil Her red teeth are a vivid symbol of her power to tear through the very substance of evil. This destruction is not only physical. It also refers to the removal of ignorance, delusion, and every form of spiritual darkness that binds the soul and afflicts the universe. She is the force that chews through whatever obstructs dharma (righteousness) and spiritual liberation.

The Fearsome Visage as Protection To those rooted in wickedness and illusion, her appearance is terrifying. To her devotees, it is deeply protective. It shows that no malevolent force can withstand her wrath, and that her children are guarded on the path of spiritual progress. Her ferocity is a form of divine love, because she destroys whatever stands in the way of true well-being and spiritual evolution.

Text and sources

The name list follows the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama as compiled for this project. The English meaning and elaboration are interpretive notes for devotional study, not a translation of a single critical edition.

Read the editorial method and source notes →

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