Kali

Kali
Kali
Mother Goddess;; Goddess of Time, Change, Creation, Power, Destruction and Death
Member of the Ten Mahavidyas
	Angered goddess Kali trampling on god Shiva
Affiliation	Adi Shakti, Durga, Parvati, Mahakali, Bhadrakali, Mahavidyas, Devi, Shakti, Tara, Chinnamasta
Abode	Cremation grounds (but varies by interpretation), Manidvipa
Mantra	Om Jayanti Mangala Kali Bhadrakali Kapalini. Durga Kshma Shiva Dhatri Swaha Swadha Namostute; Om Kreem Kalikaye Namah;
Weapon	Scimitar, Trishula (Trident)
Day	Tuesday and Friday
Mount	Wolf, Fox
Texts	Devi-Bhagavata Purana, Devi Mahatmya, Kalika Purana, Shakta Upanishads, Tantras
Gender	Female
Festivals	Kali Puja, Navaratri
Consort	Shiva

Kali (/ˈkɑːliː/; Sanskrit: काली, IAST: Kālī) or Kalika is a major Hindu goddess associated with time, change, creation, power, destruction and death in Shaktism. Kali is the first of the ten Mahavidyas in the Hindu tantric tradition.

Kali's earliest appearance is when she emerged from Durga. The goddess is stated to destroy evil in order to defend the innocent. Over time, Kali has been worshipped by devotional movements and Tàntric sects variously as the Divine Mother, Mother of the Universe, Principal energy Adi Shakti. Shakta Hindu and Tantric sects additionally worship her as the ultimate reality or Brahman. She is also seen as the divine protector and the one who bestows moksha, or liberation. Worshipped throughout South Asia but particularly in Nepal, South India, Bengal, and Assam, Kali is both geographically and culturally marginal.

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