In this painting the image of the goddess as destroyer is quite graphic - necklace of human heads, skull in hand, weapons in hand etc. What is different is that instead of her dark complexion, she is shown to be fair and beautiful with her tongue hanging out. She has the third eye in centre of her forehead. She is richly bejewelled her body, gold necklaces, bracelets and a lotus topped crown on her hand. Her long and thick black tresses defy the confines of the crown and flow all over. From within the hair emerge her arms, short and thick in proportion. The right hands show the gestures of protection (abhaya mudra) and boon bestowing (varada mudra). In the left hands she holds a blood stained sickle and the lower hand holds the beheaded skull of the sacrificial man.
Kali is particularly popular in Bengal although she is worshipped and known through out India. It is remarkable that despite her gruesome appearance Kali holds such a key position in Hindu religious devotion. She is also worshipped by many who see her as their mother.
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