Kali is the form of the Mother Goddess in which she appears angered and aroused to take on the torment of this world. The story of Kali, her origins, and purpose are best told in the 13 chapters of the Devi Mahatmyam, also known as Chandi Paat, and Durga Saptashati (“700 verses to Goddess Durga”) in the Markandeya Purana.

Said to be borne of the earwax of Vishnu (the Preserver and Protector), two demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, were determined to bother Brahma (the Creator), depicted as sitting on the lotus that rose from Vishnu’s navel.

Sensing trouble, Brahma prayed to the female power, described as the yoga nidra (cosmic sleep) of Vishnu and the one who takes away our senses causing us to forget our true purpose (Maya). Brahma invokes this power as Gayatri, Lakshmi, Eashwari (the consort of Eashwar, Shiva), and asks her to wake up Vishnu so he can destroy Madhu and Kaitabha. She emerges in the form of Kali through Vishnu’s five sense organs. Madhu-Kaitabha Samhaara (Devi Mahatmyam, Chapter 1)

In another story told in Chapters 2, 3, and 4, Mahishasura Samhaara, a war took place between the devas led by Indra and the asuras led by Mahishasura. The asuras defeated the devas and Mahishasura reigned supreme in his land of Mahisur (present-day Mysuru in Karnataka state).

Desperate in defeat, the devas approached Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. They recounted the battle with Mahishasura and how the asuras had usurped the powers of the sun, fire, wind, etc. and said: “We have told you all the actions of Mahishasura and have sought your refuge. Please think about how he can be killed.” (Ch. 2, v. 7)

One lustrous power arose from their (Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva) very angry faces. (v. 9)

A powerful force emerged from the bodies of all the assembled devas (v. 10).

Both coalesced into an incomparable flame and took the form of Kali (v. 13) described in every detail: (v. 13-17)

Her face from Shiva, her hair from Yama, and her 18 arms from Vishnu;