Shakti

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For other uses, see Shakti (disambiguation).

Shakti (

IAST: Śakti; lit. "energy, ability, strength, effort, power, might, capability"[1]) in Hinduism, is the fundamental esoteric energy that underlies and sustains all existence. In Hindu theological view, Shakti is the energizing power of Hindu Gods. Conceived of as feminine in essence, Shakti is generally personified as the wife of a particular Hindu deity, especially of Shiva
.

Shiva and Shakti are held as the

feminine principles that are complementary to each other. Shakti, as prakriti (nature) is believed to have brought the primal male (purusha) into existence. The feminine Shakti comes into being as part of the "lila" (divine play) with the masculine (Shiva), who is considered a passive complementary to the all-powerful active feminine. The God Shiva being "nonactivated Eternity", while the Shakti "activated Time". "Shiva without Shakti is but a corpse, it is said." The God Shiva says: "O Goddess I am the body (deha) and you are the conscious spirit within the body (dehin)". In Jungian psychological view, the concept of Anima/animus
that animates all humans, is considered the "spiritual equivalent" of Shakti.

The concept of the absolute

Adi shankara to promote domestic worship and unity amongst the diverse Hindu philosophies
. The term Shakta is used for the description of people and customs associated with the worship of Shakti.

Etymology

According to the Monier-Williams dictionary, Shakti (Śakti) is the Sanskrit feminine term meaning "energy, ability, strength, effort, power, might, capability".[1]

Relatedly, the term Shakta (

Sanskrit: शक्त, Śakta) is used for people and customs associated with Shakti worship.[2] The term Shakta became popular from the ninth-century onwards, before that the term Kula or Kaula, which referred to clans of female ancestory, besides to the menstrual and sexual fluids of females, was used to describe Shakti followers.[2]

Origins

The origins of the Shakti concept are prevedic.[3] Shakti worship customs were found in

BCE was found.[4] The representation of Shakti in a stone is considered an early example of a yantra.[5] Kenoyer, part of the team that excavated the stone, considered it is highly probable that the stone was associated with Shakti.[6]

Shakti became a prominent idea from the classical period of Hinduism, during which she was personified as Devi, a goddess.[3] Scriptural texts such as Devi Bhagavata Purana, Kalika Purana, Markandeya Purana, and Mahabhagavata Purana held Shakti as the supreme over all deities and promoted her worship.[3]

Beliefs

In

Pandavas.[8]

As prakriti (nature), Shakti is believed to had brought the primal male (purusha) into existence.[8] The feminine (shakti) is believed to come into being as part of the "lila" (divine play) with the masculine (shiva).[11] Shiva and Shakti are considered complementary principles to each other.[11] The masculine shiva being "nonactivated Eternity", while the feminine Shakti being "activated Time".[8]

In the Hindu tantric view, Shakti correlates with the Kundalini energy.[12] Shakti is considered the "creative dynamic energy" that permeates and "animates" all existence.[13][14] In the Brihannila Tantra, the God Shiva says: "O Goddess I am the body (deha) and you are the conscious spirit within the body (dehin)".[15] "Shiva without Shakti is but a corpse, it is said."[16] In the Jungian analytical psychology, the concept of Anima/animus that animates all humans, is considered the "spiritual equivalent" of Shakti.[8]

Smarta Advaita

In the

Brahmanism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism.[18][19][20]

Shaktism

Main article: Shaktism
Sri Guru Amritananda Nath Saraswati, performing the Navavarana Puja, an important ritual in Srividya Tantric Shaktism, at the Sahasrakshi Meru Temple at Devipuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

Shaktism regards Shakti as the Supreme Brahman, with all forms of divinity considered merely her manifestations. In the details of its philosophy and practice, Shaktism resembles Shaivism. However Shaktas focus most or all worship on Shakti as the dynamic feminine aspect of the Supreme Divine.[21] According to V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar (Professor of Indian history), in Shakta theology: "Brahman is static Shakti and Shakti is dynamic Brahman."[22] The Shakta Upanishads and the Shakta Tantras equated Brahman with Shakti, and held them inseparable.[3]

From Devi-Mahatmya:

By you this universe is borne,
By you this world is created,
Oh Devi, by you it is protected.[23]

From Shaktisangama Tantra:

Woman is the creator of the universe,
the universe is her form;
woman is the foundation of the world,
she is the true form of the body.

In woman is the form of all things,
of all that lives and moves in the world.
There is no jewel rarer than woman,
no condition superior to that of a woman.[24]

Adi Parashakti

Main article:
Adi Parashakti
Adi Shakti, the supreme feminine spirit

Vaishnavas consider her to be Lakshmi, whereas Shaivas consider her to be Parvati, Durga, Lalita and Kali, while Shaktas consider her to be Durga, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshvari, and Kali. Author Helen T. Boursier says: "In Hindu philosophy, both Lakshmi and Parvati are identified with the great goddess—Mahadevi—and the Shakti or divine power".[25]

See also

  • Ammavaru – Hindu goddess
  • Iccha-shakti – Sanskrit term for willpower
  • Kundalini – Form of divine energy in Hindu mysticism
  • Mariamman – Hindu goddess of weather
  • Mohini – Hindu goddess of enchantment, the only female avatar of Vishnu
  • Prakṛti – Nature in Hinduism
  • Purusha – Concept in Hindu philosophy
  • Shakti Pitha
     – Shrines in Shaktism, goddess-focused Hinduism
  • Tridevi – Trinity of chief goddesses in Hinduism

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Monier-Williams 2017.
  2. ^ a b Jones & Ryan 2007, p. 397.
  3. ^ a b c d Jones & Ryan 2007, p. 399.
  4. ^ Insoll 2002, p. 36.
  5. ^ Harper & Brown 2012, p. 39.
  6. ^ Kenoyer et al. 1983, p. 93.
  7. ^ Leeming 2014, p. 1646.
  8. ^ a b c d e Leeming 2014, p. 1647.
  9. ^ Rosen 2006, p. 166.
  10. ^ Leeming 2014, p. 1646-1647.
  11. ^ a b Jones & Ryan 2007, pp. 398–399.
  12. ^ Leeming 2014, p. 1777.
  13. ^ Leeming 2014, p. 546.
  14. ^ Datta & Lowitz 2005, p. 111.
  15. ^ Biernacki 2006, p. 202.
  16. ^ Jones & Ryan 2007, p. 398.
  17. ^ Smarta 2008.
  18. ^ Flood 1996, pp. 113, 134, 155–161, 167–168.
  19. ^ Sanderson 2009, pp. 276–277.
  20. ^ Shephard 2009, p. 186.
  21. ^ Subramuniyaswami, p. 1211[full citation needed]
  22. ^ Dikshitar 1999, pp. 77–78.
  23. ^ Klostermaier 1989, pp. 261, 473 footnote [1].
  24. ^ Bose 2000, p. 115.
  25. ^ Boursier 2021, p. 30.

Sources cited

Books

Journals

Websites

Further reading

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Shakti.
  • "Shakti". VedaBase. Listing of usage in Puranic literature. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009.
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