
Although her appearance seems fearsome, Kali is actually a loving and protective mother figure to her devotees. Her fearsome appearance symbolizes the destruction of all that is negative, such as ego, ignorance, and fear. It shows that destruction is a necessary part of the process of creation. In Hindu cosmology, the destruction of the old is essential for the birth of the new. Kali destroys to make way for a higher, spiritual reality.
In summary, Kali’s weapons, skulls, and fearsome appearance are all symbols of her role as the ultimate force of transformation. She destroys not only evil and ignorance, but also the illusion of the ego, so that the soul can awaken to spiritual freedom.