In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability"
Shakti often refers to the wife of Shiva. A few common names for Shakti are Mulaprakruti, meaning the root substance, and Maha maya.
Origins
One of the oldest representations of the goddess in India is in a triangular form. The
Baghor stone, found in a
Paleolithic context in the
Son River valley and dating to 9,000–8,000
BCE,
is considered an early example of a
yantra.
Kenoyer, part of the team that excavated the stone, considered that it was highly probable that the stone was associated with Shakti.
The veneration of
Shiva and Shakti was also prevalent in Indus valley civilization.
Mariamman
The Shakti goddess has been syncretised with the
Mariamman of South Indian tradition, especially in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. There are many temples devoted to various incarnations of the Shakti goddess in most of the villages in
South India. The people of the countryside believe that Amman is the bringer of rain, the protector of the village, the punisher of evil people, the cure of diseases, and the one who gives welfare to the village. They celebrate Shakti festivities with great pomp annually. Some examples of the deities assimilated into Shakti are
Mahalakshmi,
Kamakshi,
Parvati, Lalita,
Bhuvaneshwari,
Durga,
Meenakshi,
Mariamman,
Yellamma,
Poleramma,
Saraswati and Perantalamma.
Shaktism
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 (शक्त, , ), practitioners of Shaktism, focus most or all worship on Shakti, as the dynamic feminine aspect of the Supreme Divine.
Shiva, the masculine aspect of divinity, is considered solely transcendent, and Shiva's worship is usually secondary.
[Subramuniyaswami, p. 1211]
From Devi-Mahatmya:
From Shaktisangama Tantra:
Adi Parashakti
Smarta Advaita
In the
Smarta Advaita sect of Hinduism, Shakti is considered to be one of five equal personal forms of God in the
panchadeva system advocated by
Adi Shankara.
See also
Notes
Further reading
External links
