Kali

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Kali (left) and Dakini (right) as seen in Digital Devil Saga 2

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In Hindu mythology, Kali is the violent goddess of destruction who was created from the forehead of Parvati's second aspect, Durga, and as such, she is associated with the deity Shiva by marriage. She is depicted as a flesh-eating woman with red emaciated skin, four arms, three eyes, a gaping mouth with her tongue lolling out, wearing a tiger's skin, holding a sword and a staff decorated with a garland of skulls. In more recent years, Kali has been worshipped by certain sects as a benevolent mother deity and has a city named Kolkata (or Kalikata, meaning "Kali's bathing pool") honouring her.

The most famous tale involving the creation and personality of Kali is told in the story of the asura Raktabija. Durga led the Matrikas in a battle against Raktabija in an attempt to destroy the demon and were able to wound him in various ways. However he had obtained a boon which stated that whenever a drop of his blood was spilt, it would become an exact copy of him. The more Durga attacked Raktabija, the more of him were created, and the situation became increasingly more dangerous. Feeling the battle slipping out of her control, Durga used her mystic powers to summon forth the most destructive aspect of herself. From her brow leapt the fearsome Kali, instilling panic in any that approached her.

Kali immediately lay upon the asura hordes in a wild frenzy, devouring all of Raktabija's clones and sucking out his blood so that not a drop was spilled. Pleased with her victory, Kali began to dance upon the field of battle, trampling the bodies of the fallen and causing the earth to shake violently. None of those present were able to calm Kali, and it seemed liking that she would cause the earth to split. Suddenly Kali heard the cries of her husband Shiva who was laying among the slaughtered asura, and seeing him she was immediately calmed.

Many other tales of Kali's battles with the demonic and evil forces that wished to overthrow the devas were told, always with Kali showing a violent and bloodthirsty nature. For this reason, some of the religious sects in early Hinduism that worshipped Kali would offer live human sacrifices or sacrifies of blood.

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