Shaktism

Shaktism is the worship of the supreme Goddess Shakti. It is one of the major forms of Hinduism. Devotees of the Goddess are generally called "Shakta"; the followers of Shakti, a name for the Goddess denoting the female "power" or "energy" of the universe. With Shakta texts this feminized religion becomes overt in both Puranic and Tantric manifestations. The main deities of Shaktism in Hindu mythology are the powerful male Gods – Vishnu and Shiva. Shaktism is also related to the female counterpart of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Parvati.

Shaktism is the demonstration of the eternal power of both animate and inanimate world and the origin of all creation. Shakti or the worship of Shakti comprises the awakening and strengthening of the three layers of human body; physical, subtle and casual; and the five "koshas" to accomplish various types of currents of Shakti.

The concept of Shaktism was influenced by the Samkhya and Vedanta philosophies. Tantras teach that ultimately the person who worships Devi becomes Devi herself. It is exemplified by the female principle, the female reproductive organs, or the Goddess Shakti, who is considered to be the wife of Shiva. Shakti or energy is viewed as the merging of powers emanating from male Gods, and it is possessed by each person.

Origin of Shaktism can be attributed to the literature of the Vedic Age. It further evolved in the formative years of the Hindu epics. It reached its zenith during the Gupta Age (300-700 CE) and kept on developing. Origin of Shaktism in India can be traced during the period extending from the 4th to 7th centuries. Evidences can be found in the ancient texts `Tantras`, which are dedicated to this faith of Shaktism.

The coming of Aryans as well as non - Aryans also contributed to the Origin of Shaktism in India. The polytheistic, animistic belief of the non Aryans tribes contributed to the growth of Shaktism in the country. The popular religious cults of Shaivism, Shaktism, and Tantrism are associated with aboriginal forms of worship and other indigenous faiths which further flourished.

The important text of Shaktism is the Devi Mahatmya which was composed around 1,600 years ago. Other important texts include the Lalita Sahasranama, the Devi Gita, Adi Shankara`s Saundaryalahari and the Tantras. The earliest Mother Goddess that was unearthed in India which was near Allahabad belongs to the Upper Paleolithic dating back to 20,000 - 23,000 BCE.

Shaktism is the worship of Goddess Shakti in all her forms, the goddess are represented in a gentle or fierce way. She is believed to be the one who can lead a devotee to salvation. Moreover, she is considered the motivating force of all actions in the cosmos. Mysticism is the ritual identification with Shiva and Shakti, or it is the identification of the devotee with the goddess as creator of the universe. In Shakta Bhakti, the goddess oversees the universe, and controls both creation and destruction. Origin of Shaktism in India is believed to be in the Vedic Age. According to Hindu Epics, Shaktism further evolved during the determining period of the Hindu epics. During the Gupta Age Shaktism developed and expanded.

These philosophies and rituals have evolved in the northern subcontinent. Goddess focused tradition was even expanding from the Dravidian civilizations of south India. The female Principle cult was a major aspect of the Dravidian religion. Eventually female deities came to be identified with the Goddess Parvati, Durga or Kali.

The follower of Shaktism is termed as Shakta, the follower makes uses of chants, magic, holy diagrams, yoga postures and other rituals to summon the cosmic forces and awaken the `Kundalini` power, which is a psycho-spiritual power residing in a latent form in the human spine.

Shaktism encompasses a nearly endless variety of practices from primitive animism to philosophical speculation of the highest order that seek to access the Shakti or Divine Energy or Power. Shaktism is a result of the Aryanization of non-Aryan cults and beliefs of previous eras. Shaktism has had an incalculable influence on Hindu ritual and practices. It has had even some influence on Buddhism too. Shaktism had affected the religious practices of all sects.

Goddess Shakti is a contradictory and ambivalent figure in Hinduism. On the one hand she is the source of life, the benevolent mother who is giving and overflowing, yet on the other she is a terrible malevolent force who demands offerings of blood and meat to placate her wrath.

The representations of Shakti that are found in Puranas and Tantric philosophies are Durga, slayer of the buffalo-demon "Mahishasura", seated on or attended by a lion or tiger. Goddess Kali is surrounded with other terrible manifestations, such as "Chamunda". They are emaciated, blood-drinking and violent forms who haunt the cremation grounds.

There are two largest schools that follow the principles of Shaktism that include; the Srikula (family of Sri), prominent in South India, and the Kalkula (family of Kali), which prevails in northern and eastern India. Another Tantric Goddess who is the focus of a group of Tantras of the western Kaula transmission is Kubjika, the `Crooked One`. This school originated in the western Himalayas, possibly in Kashmir, is known to have existed in Nepal by the 12th century.

Another cult of Shaktism is the Sri Vidya. It is the cult of Tripura Sundari, a Tantric form of Sri Lakshmi, who is worshipped in the form of a sacred diagram or Yantra of 9 intersecting triangles. The Tripura Sundari cult can be classified, in its earliest phase, as the latest level of the Mantra Marga, the "Path of Mantra".

Shakti is a concept which is a branch of Hinduism and this denomination regards Devi as the Supreme Brahman and worships Shakti, or Devi Mata. In Hinduism, Great Divine Mother is regarded as the symbol of motherhood and power. In Shaktism goddess worship in all of her forms is the practice. Shaktism regards Mahadevi as the Great Goddess. Deities of Shaktism are all-powerful goddess. They are variously called Devi or Shakti or Kali. In folk or tribal Hinduism, the mystical goal is union with a deity through possession. Shaktas practitioners mostly focus on Shakti, as the dynamic feminine aspect of the Supreme Divine

Deities of Shaktism possess the very energy of existence, as Shakti is active, creative energy and each Goddess is profiled with her Shakti. The Great Goddess is seen as the personification of primitive energy and the source of all divine and cosmic evolution. She is identified with the Supreme Being who is the Source of all the forces and potentialities of Nature. The worship in Shaktism can take many forms; however, it is influenced by Tantra. The goddess of power or Shakti is worshipped in several ways in with a worship ceremony, offerings of sweets and flowers, chanting mantras, using mudras, and also offering sacrifice. Moreover, she is most powerfully worshipped by chanting her `bija` mantra, which is different for each goddess.

Among the Deities of Shaktism, Shaktas prefer to worship Kali, Durga, and Parvati. Durga is the manifestation of power. Her form is of Mahadevi, or "Great Goddess," who is celebrated in the Devi Mahatmya. Kali is the goddess of destruction and transformation, and her name implies "time or "black"). Parvati is considered to be the wife of Shiva and is strongly associated with Kali and other goddesses. Shaktism believes satisfying the deities by animal sacrifice.

Shaktism is also fused with local beliefs in villages throughout India. Deities of Shaktism are associated with local beliefs as the protective goddesses who punish the evil, cure diseases and bring boons and blessings to the people. Durga Puja is a major festival among the rituals of Shaktism, along with Kali Puja, Minakshi Kalyanam and Ambubachi Mela which is the most important festival of the Shakta Tantriks.