Black, terrible, swift as thought, intensely red, smoky-grey in color, sparkling, universally resplendent — these are the seven tongues of the goddess flame in her dance.

Poetic description of the seven forms of sacred fire, each with its qualities.

Kālī — black. The fire in its devouring, destructive aspect, consuming all.

Karālī — terrible, with open mouth. The terrifying aspect of the divine, beyond human comprehension.

Manojavā — swift as thought. Faster than thinking, without spatial restrictions.

Sulohitā — intensely red. The fire in its fullness, radiating heat and light.

Sudhūmra-varṇā — smoky-grey in color. The fire at beginning or end, in transition.

Sphuliṅginī — sparkling, throwing sparks. The active fire, generator of energy.

Viśvarucī — universally resplendent. The flame that illuminates the entire cosmos.

Lelāyamānā — in her dance. The fire is not static but rhythmic, vibrant, alive.

These seven tongues symbolize the multiple dimensions of divine energy that transforms.