Human society has seen a dramatic increase in the interest in Vampires and Vampirism lately. The Vampire is no longer that pathetic ugly blood-thirsty Nosferatu of east-European folk-lore, but an enigmatic symbol of beauty, power, sensuality and immortality.
What is the social psychology behind this modern day phenomenon? It is Individual Empowerment. We live in an age when larger numbers of people are facing identity crises, as a result of centuries of indoctrination and merciless lessons in social conformity. There are those among us who are depleted of our dignity and sense of Self as a result of this systematic annihilation of the individual. We seek to be free, to revel in our own glory and to experience the world as never before. We want to grow in sensitivity so that our experience of the world may be enhanced. The modern Vampire persona is the perfect outlet for this desire of ours. Though Stephanie Meyer has brought Vampires into the living rooms of most modern day families across the globe, Anne Rice must be credited with really resurrecting the Vampire in all its glory in her "Vampire Chronicles". The Vampire Lestat is "the" Vampire, representing the ultimate struggle to be all one can be, to be oozing, as it were, with "being". Vampirism is therefore, ironically, a celebration of life.
The idea of Vampirism has its origin in ancient Indian mythology, in the persona of the Great Goddess Kali. She has been revered, feared, misunderstood, and associated with all manner of superstitious belief over the centuries. And why not? She is after all not so simply understood or appreciated. Dark, naked, with wild hair like that of a Maenad, clothed in the limbs of her enemies, with extended canines, her long tongue lolling out, dripping with the blood she has consumed – to put it across in modest terms, Kali is simply overwhelming.
The legend of Kali is thus: The world, according to its cyclic movement, had once again moved from an age of light to one of dense darkness and ignorance. Demonic forces plagued the Gods and Humans alike, who were powerless against the mighty Mahisasura, a powerful Demon who through his intense asceticism and yoga had obtained the boon that he could be slain by no male entity, whether man or god. The Gods gathered in council and decided to manifest from their collective energies the great Goddess Durga, who would be an emanation from Lord Shiva's spouse Parvati, possessed of all the collective might of the Gods. She would bring an end to the atrocious rule of Mahisasura.
When the Goddess Durga confronted the mighty Mahisasura, she was aided by her manifold Shaktis or powers. In Mahisasura's demonic army, was a most diabolical demon by the name of Rakta-Bija. Durga destroyed all the forces of evil that were under Mahisasura's command, all except Raktabija, who possessed a unique ability. Every time a single drop of his blood was shed, a hundred more Raktabijas sprang forth from it. He was an inexhaustible source of evil. How could Durga slay him and prevent him regenerating from his own blood? She manifested from her infinite power the great and terrifying Goddess Kali, who drank the vile blood of Raktabija, even as she ripped him apart and consumed him. Inebriated with the blood of the demons and consumed by blood-lust, Kali went on a senseless rampage, slaughtering all in her way, even after the demonic army had conceded defeat. To stop her, the lord of yogis, Shiva, lay down in her path of destruction. It was only when she stepped on the supine Shiva that she came back to her senses, and ceased her relentless attack. Then onwards, she has been worshipped by all seeking to overcome evil forces.
This story is deeply symbolic. To understand the symbolism is to grasp the truth behind the legend. Man, as he is possessed of choice, has recourse to both good and evil. The Divine and Demonic forces thus exist within man. The word "rakta" means blood, and "bija" means seed. In other words, the demon Raktabeeja is actually symbolic of genetic or inherited negative traits present in each individual. Kali, is the force of yoga or inner purification, which consumes inherited evil and prevents it from increasing or multiplying.
This legend was carried out of India by wandering Gypsy tribes. The legend was slowly distorted, and these distortions, along with the inherent fear present in man, and man's tendency to exploit fear, led to the creation of the East-European vampire Nosferatu, the undead. Nosferatu, in turn gave birth to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Dracula spawned the hordes of vampires, the tales of which have found new meaning in today's world.
In a certain sense, the original idea of the Vampire has come full-circle. From Kali, who drinks evil blood and purifies, to the modern-day vampire, who has a conscience, and a moral responsibility to control his own blood-thirst and to seek great beauty in existence.
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