Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability"[1]) is the fundamental cosmic energy and a central deity within Shaktism, a significant theological tradition of Hinduism. Representing dynamic forces that permeate the universe,[2] Shakti embodies feminine energy and is often depicted as the consort of Shiva.[3] In this tradition, Devi, the Goddess, is regarded as the Supreme Brahman herself, with all other divine forms seen as her manifestations. The worship of Shakti entails a diverse array of goddesses, including Durga, Kali, Parvati, and Tripura Sundari, each representing unique facets of her power.
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Shakti
Durga, a goddess regarded to be a popular form of Shakti
One of the central concepts is Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess who underlies all other goddesses and can be linked to different deities like Lakshmi, Parvati, and Durga in various Hindu traditions. Shaktism's historical roots trace back to ancient times, with early artifacts like the Baghor stone indicating the presence of goddess worship in India during the Paleolithic era. The SmartaAdvaita sect, within which Shaktism is a key element, acknowledges Shakti as one of five equal forms of God, promoting domestic worship and unity amidst diverse Hindu philosophies. Shaktism's synthesis with regional traditions is evident in South India, where goddesses like Amman embody her presence and are celebrated as protectors and providers in local communities.
Origins
Shakti, the goddess, was found in a Paleolithic context in the Son River valley. It is a triangular stone known as the Baghor stone and is estimated to have been created around to 9,000–8,000BCE.[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 that it was highly probable that the stone was associated with Shakti.[6]
Shaktism regards Devi (lit., "the Goddess") as the Supreme Brahman itself with all other forms of divinity considered to be merely Her diverse manifestations. In the details of its philosophy and practice, Shaktism resembles Shaivism. However, Shaktas (Sanskrit: शक्त, Śakta, ), practitioners of Shaktism, focus most or all worship on Shakti, as the dynamic feminine aspect of the Supreme Divine.[7]
From Devi-Mahatmya:
By you this universe is borne,
By you this world is created,
Oh Devi, by you it is protected.[8]
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.[9]
Mahadevi (Sanskrit: महादेवी, IAST: Mahādevī), also referred to as Adi Parashakti, Adi Shakti, and Abhaya Shakti, is the supreme goddess in the Shaktism sect of Hinduism. According to this tradition, all Hindu goddesses are considered to be manifestations of this single great Goddess, who is comparable to the deities Vishnu and Shiva as Para Brahman. Vaishnavas consider her to be Lakshmi, 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".[10]
Smarta Advaita
In the SmartaAdvaita sect of Hinduism, Shakti is considered to be one of five equal personal forms of God in the panchadeva system advocated by Adi Shankara.[11] The Smarta tradition (Sanskrit: स्मार्त), also called Smartism, is a movement in Hinduism that developed and expanded with the Puranas genre of literature. It reflects a synthesis of four philosophical strands, namely Mimamsa, Advaita, Yoga, and theism. The Smarta tradition rejects theistic sectarianism, and is notable for the domestic worship of five shrines with five deities, all treated as equal – Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu and Surya. The Smarta tradition contrasted with the older Shrauta tradition, which was based on elaborate rituals and rites. There has been a considerable overlap in the ideas and practices of the Smarta tradition with other significant historic movements within Hinduism, namely Shaivism, Brahmanism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism.[12][13][14]
Bose, Mandakranta (2000). Faces of the Feminine in Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p.115. ISBN0195352777. OCLC560196442.
Sanderson, Alexis. "The Saiva Age: The Rise And Dominance Of Saivism During The Early Medieval Period". In Genesis And Development of Tantrism, Edited By Shingo Einoo. Tokyo: Institute Of Oriental Culture, University Of Tokyo, 2009. Institute Of Oriental Culture Special Series, 23, pp. 276–277.
Harish, Ranjana; Harishankar, V. Bharathi (2003). Shakti: Multidisciplinary perspectives on women's empowerment in India. New Delhi, IN: Rawat. ISBN81-7033-793-3.
McDaniel, June (2004). Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular goddess worship in West Bengal. Oxford University Press.
Shaw, Miranda (1994). Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Tiwari, Bri. Maya (2002). The Path of Practice: A woman's book of Ayurvedic healing. Motilal Banarsidass Press.
"Shakti". VedaBase. Listing of usage in Puranic literature. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009.
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