The brief was to paint Bhadrakali fierce without letting the panel descend into gore-clutter, so the rage is concentrated in one dominant frontal figure and the rest of the wall is left to the deep temple-red ground that Kerala's Bhagavati shrines actually use. Her red body is the point: in the guna code red is the rajasic, fierce register, the opposite of the calm green deities, and the flaming crown, protruding tongue and skull garland read it instantly. The multiple arms hold sword, trident, bow, a severed head and the blood-bowl; she stands astride the golden prostrate Darika, the demon she was raised to destroy. Two green attendants flank her at medium-light density, so the eye lands on the goddess first and the kill below second.