However, in most of the interpretations, she is portrayed as ferocious and evil. Kali Ma is simultaneously portrayed as the giver and destructor of life. She is considered as a berserk form of Durga/ Parvati, who is the consort of Lord Shiva.

To aid her son in his endeavor to rid the three worlds of the multiplying demon, Raktabija, Parvati entered the cosmic battlefield as the dreaded goddess Kali – dark as death, gaunt with sunken eyes, gaping mouth, with long disheveled hair covering her naked body.

The name Kali means She, who is Beyond Time. Kali Ma is known as the preserve of Earth, but due to her destructive powers she is also known as “Dark Mother”.