Kalma

Description: Goddess of death and decay, haunted graveyards, snatching the flesh of the dead. In Tuonela, she lived in an invisible country guarded by the flesh-eating monster, Surma. Daughter of Tuoni and Tuonetar.

Kalma is a death goddess who lives in Tuonela, the Finnish realm of death. Her name can be variously translated as “corpse”, “grave” and “stench of rotting corpses.” (A modern Finnish word for “cemetery” is kalmisto.) She is not the presiding spirit of Tuonela; that’s her father, Tuoni but Kalma serves as one of his assistants. Kalma presides over graves and so she haunts the cemetery. She may be responsible for deaths caused by illness.

ORIGIN:

Finland

MANIFESTATION:

Kalma is recognized by the way she smells.

Spirit ally:

Kalma is often accompanied by Surma, the creature who guards Tuonela. Surma is usually described as a huge canine with a serpent for a tail.

SEE ALSO:

• Hel
• Louhi
• Persephone
• Tuonetar

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.