Once, long ago, there lived the Asura Dharuka, whose cruelty tormented both devas and humans. To end his tyranny, Lord Paramashiva sent forth his daughter, the fierce Goddess Bhadrakali, to destroy him. Bhadrakali fought bravely and slew Dharuka.

But his wife, the beautiful Manodari, could not bear the loss. Grief-stricken, she turned to Paramashiva himself and performed deep tapas. Moved by her devotion, Paramashiva granted her a few drops of his divine sweat, telling her that with this she could wield a power over people.

On her way back, still burning with anger, Manodari encountered Bhadrakali, who was returning victorious after killing Dharuka. In her fury, she sprinkled the sweat on Bhadrakali, and instantly, the goddess was struck with the affliction of smallpox.

Bhadrakali fell on the path to Kailasa, her body covered in blisters. Alarmed, the Bhooth Ganas rushed to Lord Shiva. From his power, he created Khandakarna, who came and licked the goddess’s body, cleansing her of the disease—yet Bhadrakali chose to keep the marks of smallpox on her face as her ornament, a symbol of her fierce beauty.

But she had not forgotten Manodari’s deed. In her wrath, Bhadrakali cut away Manodari’s eyes, ears, and legs. She then transformed her into Vasuri Mala Bhagavathi, binding her forever as one of her Bhooth Ganas. From then on, it was believed that Vasuri Mala carried the power of smallpox, a goddess both feared and worshipped, who reminds us of divine justice and the dangers of arrogance and revenge