Meaning and elaboration
Meaning: The embodiment of compassionate grace, pouring mercy and boundless kindness upon all beings.
Elaboration
In the context of Mahakali, the name Karuna means "compassion," "mercy," or "pity." It draws attention to an aspect of the Great Goddess that is sometimes overshadowed by her fiercer forms: her vast and inexhaustible grace.
Benevolent Aspect of the Fierce Mother While Kali is renowned for her fierce and terrifying manifestations, Karuna reveals the truth within that ferocity. It does not arise from anger or cruelty, but from unwavering compassion (Karuṇā). Her seemingly destructive acts, such as slaying demons and consuming time, are acts of purifying grace meant to free beings from suffering and ignorance. She destroys the limited so that the limitless may be known.
Unconditional Mercy Karuna reveals the Divine Mother as one who feels the pain of her children as her own. Her mercy is not conditional. It extends even to those caught in cycles of delusion and suffering. She is the supreme refuge, offering solace, healing, and forgiveness to all who sincerely turn to her.
The Shower of Grace (Kripa) As Karuna, she pours out her Kripa, or divine grace, upon her devotees. That grace may appear as guidance, protection from harm, the removal of obstacles, or the inner strength to confront one's own darkness. Through her Karuna, the practitioner gains the support needed for spiritual progress and ultimate liberation. To understand Kali as Karuna is to see that her awe-inspiring fierceness and her compassionate power to liberate are not separate, but one.