Daughter of Shiva, the fierce protector who banishes darkness with divine strength.
The ferocious manifestation of Kali, known as Bhadrakali, guards against evil, bestows prosperity on devotees and shields the good from harm.
In the Kerala tradition, it is believed that the events narrated in the Markandeya Purana unfolded in North Kerala. The story revolves around Bhadrakali, who killed the demon Darika, She came out of Lord Shiva's third eye to eliminate the demon Darika.
Bhadrakali, one of Devi's nine manifestations, is named after "Bhadra," a Sanskrit term that means "one who showers blessings and protects against harm. The word Bhadra also means auspicious and Bhadrakali is said to protect the honour of women and bestow spiritual knowledge.
The garland consisting of 51 skulls that adorn her chest represents the 51 alphabets in the Sanskrit language. The worship of Bhadrakali has been prevalent in Kerala for several centuries. In essence, Bhadrakali represents the kind and protective traits that keep an eye on her followers, assuring their success.