Goddess Kalaratri is a ferocious form of Mother Goddess Shakti and is worshiped in many places in Kerala. This particular story of Goddess Kalaratri is from North Kerala. In this region, a theyyam of Kalaratri is performed during the annual theyyam thira kaliyattam festival in some kavu, tharavadu and temples in the region.
A demon named Damughan overpowered the Devas with his unfathomable strength and ferociousness. Deva, or demigods, approached Shiva to find a solution. Shiva deputed his student Parashurama to capture Damughan. But Parashurama failed in the mission. This angered Shiva who opened his third eye and from it appeared Goddess Kalaratri.
The Goddess went alone into the battlefield and caused an unimaginable mayhem. She finally caught hold of Demon Damughan, she chopped his head with nail of her little finger and drank his blood.
But the fury of the Goddess continued to increase and now she threatened the very existence of the universe. To calm her down Shiva performed an amorous dance. He tried to invoke the woman in her sexually. Goddess Kalaratri was aroused and she embraced Shiva. A son was born from this divine union and he was given the name Kshetrapalakan.
Goddess Kalartri was invoked by many kings in ancient times to get her protection during war against other kingdoms. She was the Kuladevata of many kingdoms.