In Hindu mythology, the goddess often depicted as a fierce, dark form of Shakti is Kali.
Kali is a major Hindu goddess associated with time, transformation, death, and the destruction of evil. Her name is related to kala, a Sanskrit term connected with time and blackness. Traditional images may show her with dark or blue-black skin, wild hair, a garland of heads, and a skirt of arms. These dramatic symbols represent the destruction of ego, mortality, and the impermanence of worldly power rather than simple violence.
Kali appears prominently in Shakta traditions, which worship the goddess as the supreme divine power. In the Devi Mahatmya, she emerges in the battle against demonic forces, and later traditions connect her with the defeat of the demon Raktabija. Kali is sometimes confused with Durga, but the two are distinct forms with overlapping stories and theology. In many traditions Kali is also linked with Shiva, especially through images in which she stands upon his body after a destructive dance.