The three portions of
the Devimahatmya, the oldest and most significant source for Goddess mythology,
depict the goddess in three distinct manifestations: Mahasaraswati,
Mahalakshmi, and Mahakali.
Although all of these manifestations are highly strong,
Mahakali is the most savage of them all.
She is claimed to have appeared from the Goddess's forehead
as a tangible representation of the deity's fury after being insulted by the
demon generals Chanda and Munda, who questioned her combat abilities since she
was a woman.
Mahakali is described as being dark, lean, and decrepit,
with long fangs and claws, and uttering terrifying howls.
The demon armies are defeated by her taking them up and
shoving them into her mouth, where they are consumed whole.
She subsequently cuts off the heads of Chanda and Munda to
kill them.
Raktabija, her ultimate foe, has been granted the ability to
convert each drop of his blood that falls to the ground into a replica of
himself, making him almost unconquerable.
This monster is defeated by Kali, who drinks his blood as it
is spilt until it is fully gone.
See David R. Kinsley's Hindu Deities, 1986, and John
Stratton Hawley and Donna Wullf's Devi, 1996, for further information about
Mahakali and all the Hindu goddesses.
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