Kali is the Hindu goddess of time, creation, destruction, violence and power. She is the destroyer of evil forces, the most powerful form of Shakti, and is an incarnation of Parvati, wife of Shiva. She is often seen as the divine protector and standing or dancing next to Shiva, who lies calmly beneath her. There are various versions for the origin of Kali and her other forms, in one story Kali appeared out of the goddess Durga, she has dark blue skin, sunken eyes, wears a tiger skin and a garland of human heads. Kali killed the undefeated demon Raktabija by sucking his blood dry before it can reproduce, it seemed impossible to stop Kali’s bloody rampage, until Shiva lied down in her path, and Kali finally calmed down after realizing who she was standing on.
