Sahasranama position 407 of the 1,072 names

Balika

बालिका

Bālikā

What Balika means

Balika is name 407 in the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama, the 1,072-name devotional text to Maa Kali. The Young (Balika) Mother, forever radiant in her youthful vigor.

Also spelled

  • Source transliteration: BALIKA

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 Young (Balika) Mother, forever radiant in her youthful vigor.

Elaboration

The name Balika comes from the Sanskrit word Bala or Balika, meaning a "young girl" or "youthful one." In this aspect, the Goddess reveals eternal youth, purity, and dynamic energy.

Eternal Youth and Freshness Balika represents the ever-new, fresh, and untainted current of divine power. She does not age, diminish, or run dry, but remains constantly vibrant and full of potential. Unlike human beings, who are subject to age and decay, her youth is perpetual and points to the inexhaustible source of creation and energy.

Unleashed Potency The youthful nature of Balika signifies raw, unbridled power that has not been diminished or confined. It is fierce, spontaneous, and untouched by the limitations and decay that shape ordinary worldly experience. This youthful vigor becomes an unstoppable force for the destruction of evil and the protection of her devotees.

Benevolent Nature While Kali is often associated with fierce forms, Balika also carries a gentle and benevolent undertone. Her youth suggests innocence, playfulness, and a deeply maternal protectiveness, yet none of this lessens her immense power. She is the playful yet potent Mother who grants boons and safeguards wellbeing.

Spiritual Significance For the devotee, meditating on Balika fosters purity, enthusiasm, and an approach to the divine with an open, child-like heart. She encourages the aspirant to shed worn-out conceptions and approach the Mother with renewed freshness and vigor, knowing that her power is ever ready to manifest and overcome obstacles.

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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