What's the name of the six-armed Hindu goddess of destruction and what does she look like?

Answer 1

To the Western mind, Kali's image is frightening: a wild, black-skinned woman with a huge black cloud of disheveled hair, nude except for a necklace of gleaming white human skulls, and a skirt of human heads and human arms.
Kali herself is multi-armed. In her hands she bears a trident, a severed head, and a bowl full of blood. This is Kali Ma, the Great Mother, superficially a figure of pure terror.

Yet millions of people worship her as a tender and loving mother.

Answer 2

**Edit: After doing more research, I've changed my vote to Durga, the third opinion I listed below :-)** I've got a couple possible thoughts for this one, but I'm mainly thinking Saraswati. [[Maybe you could post a photo that someone may recognize?]] Ganga: Some of the things you can often expect to see her to holding: a lute (could this be the flat and arched thing?) and a water lilly or flower pot-like thing (what you described as a lotus? or maybe the egg-thing?) Saraswati and Lakshmi are both often depicted with a lotus, but Saraswati also often has a "veena" (a type of lute; so again, maybe that's the flat thing?) Additionally, Saraswati carries a book, so maybe that's the flat rectangle? And she's associated with a "rosary," or string of beads, too. But there is also a depiction of an "aspect" of MahaLakshmi in the middle of the Devi Mahatmya, which has her with 18 arms... {*edit: just looked at a description of 'Durga;' and it appears these are the same goddess*} Some of the items the Devi is holding sound like those you've described: 1-A string of beads 2-A bow (flat and arched?) 3-A wine cup (the 'egg with a base'?) 4-A bell (again, maybe that's the 'egg with a base?) 5-A sword 6-A shield (the flat rectangle?) 7-A lotus 8- A discus sudarsana (can't quite figure this out, but it could be represented in the wheel-like earrings) This is the Devi that defeated Mahishasura. Additionally: Most of goddesses are usually depicted with 4 arms instead of 6, but sometimes you'll see a depiction with 6 or 8 or 10+... So it's not always a hard-and-fast rule....

Answer 3

You would be referring to Kali Ma. And she is the Goddess of Destruction but as a way to clear the path for new creation. She's generally depicted as dark with a necklace or belt of skulls.

Answer 4

Kali Ma, meaning the black mother. She is (of course) usually depicted as black, with entrails and skulls and other human body parts worn upon her body. She has things in her hands which are for destruction and dismemberment, and is extremely bloodthirsty. Her cults and followers have offered human sacrifice to her for her entire history, leading up to even today.
Don't mess with her...

(Interestingly, she is quite popular among peace-loving households in India today as a protector (sort of guard-dog goddess) - usuallly with her small statues aimed outward in windows.)

Blessed be.

Answer 5

Kali, Kali, Kali, oh my Mother!

Om Kali Ma!
Jai Kali Ma!

Here's photos of Her:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hindugods/sets/72157600005411328/

Answer 6

Kali, She sometimes has 4, 6, 8 or thousands and thousands of arms.

Answer 7

I think her name is Shiva or something close to that (isn't she the 1 ur supposed to kill in Tomb Raider 3?) She has 6 scimitars (1 on each arm) and she has a lot of jewelry around her... ummm.. wat else... she has this crow thingit isn't a crown... but is like this curved thing on her head...

Answer 8

^Kali is her name, see the sites below for more information and pictures. Enjoy.

Answer 9

Vishnu, and just like how you described, only blue.

Answer 10

I believe her name is Kalima.