What is the history behind Kali?

Answer 1

Mother Goddess Durga was created by the three major Hindu Gods by pooling their power. This was because a demon king, Mahishasura, had received a boon that no God will be able to kill him. When Durga was fighting with the army of Mahishasura, a particular demon, Raktabeej (blood-seed) proved difficult to kill. Raktabeej had a boon that if a drop of his blood fell on earth, a new Raktabeej would be created.

Now Goddess Durga many a times, decapacitated Raktabeej or beheaded him, but the result was that more and more Raktabeej were being created. Then Goddess Durga took the form of Kali. She would collect Raktabeej's blood in a skull and drink it, so that no drop of blood fell on ground. In this way Raktabeej was killed.

But Kali went berserk with killing of these uncounted Raktabeejas. She began to dance a world destroying dance. Gods then sent Shiva to pacify Kali, but Kali floored Shiva and started dancing on him. Then all the Gods and Goddesses came and requested Kali to calm down.

So Kali is ferocious for the enemies of her devotees and the greatest savior for the devotees. She is depicted with a garland of skulls with ornaments made of bones around her feet and arms. She has a skull bowl in one hand and a scimitar in another. She is depicted with fiery eyes and a drooping red tongue.