Bhadrakali

Bhadrakālī is a Hindu goddess popular in Southern India. She is one of the fierce forms of the Great Goddess Shakti or Adi Parashakti (also called Durga, Devi, Mahadevi, or Mahamaya) mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. Bhadrakali is a popular form of the Great Goddess, worshipped in Kerala as Bhadrakali, Mahakali, Chamunda and Kariam Kali Murti. In Kerala she is seen as the auspicious and fortunate form of Mahakali who protects the good.

This goddess is represented with three eyes, and four, sixteen, or eighteen hands. She carries a number of weapons, with flames flowing from her head, and a small tusk protruding from her mouth. Her worship is also associated with the Tantric tradition of the Matrikas as well as the tradition of the ten Mahavidyas and falls under the broader umbrella of Shaktism. Sarkara, Kodungalloor, Parumala Sree Valiya Panayannarkavu Temple, Attukal, Chettikulangara, Thirumandhamkunnu and Chottanikkara are famous Bhadrakali temples in Kerala. Mandaikadu, Kollencode are famous temples in Tamil Nadu. Bhadrakali temple in Warangal is famous.

Bhadrakali is primarily worshipped in 4 forms:
1. Darukajit (as the killer of the demon Darika)
2. Dakshajit (as the killer of Daksha,
3. Rurujit (as the slayer of the demon Ruru)
4. Mahishajit (as She who killed Mahishasura).