Kali - Kerala Mural Archive

This image shows the fierce Kali standing on top of Shiva after cutting off the head of Darika, the demon, or asura.

Primary Deity/Figure: Kali
Iconographic Form: Kali
Iconographic Attributes: The image shows a fierce Kali, green skin, blue skin, wearing a necklace of skulls. She has four arms, and in one of her arms she is holding a sword. The other arm is holding the head of Dariga, the asura, but it is not completely visible. There are two more arms, one is held in an open palmed way. The other is holding an unknown object. She is wearing a lower garment made of palms of hands of people whom she murdered. She is most likely stepping on the chest of Shiva. Shiva can be identified by the tiger skin cloth that he is wearing.
Rasa: Shanta

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: Darika was a fierce demon who terrorized the three worlds. He was given a boon that he would only be killed by a woman born without the union of a male and female. He was also granted the boon that if a drop of his blood falls on the battleground, multiple Darikas would be reborn from it. Shiva, enraged by the arrogance of Darika, decided to open his third eye and created Bhadrakali, or Kali. Kali engaged in a battle with Darika and in the end killed him. She also ensured that his blood would not spill to the ground by holding up his head in the air and holding a vessel underneath it. Kali is among the fiercest form of Shakti, or female goddess.
Episode: Non narrative

Condition: Fair
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple authorities
Date of Documentation: 08/08/2024
Artist: Neelakantan Ilayath
Identifier: ASG_P032
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.