The Śakti Cult in Śaivism

Subject Areas : Christianity

محبوبه  هادینیا ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2014-10-18 Accepted : 2014-10-18 Published : 2008-03-20

Keywords: Śakti, Śiva, Linga, Yoni, Tantra,

Abstract :

Śakti, from Sanskrit shak, means sacred power and energy. In Hinduscriptures, it means the "efficient energy" of the Supreme Principle, orthe feminine aspect of the Supreme Principle, which is responsible forevery act of creation. According to Tantric doctrines, the supreme Śaktiis the only feminine substance behind the well-known triple-aspect ofThe Reality i.e. Sat, Chit, Ānanda. Thus, similar to Brahman in AdvaitaVedānta, Śakti is also regarded as "Satchidānanda", and like Brahman,it descends into the world of manifestation, while keeping herselfconcealed and unperceivable behind the veil of universal illusion, i.e.the Māyā. Śakti is also responsible for the world's final destination, somuch so that the whole manifestation is supposed to be reintegratedinto its single substance, i.e. the Śakti. Therefore, Śakti is the supremecreative substance, the divine-mother, from her sacred womb the wholemanifestation comes forth and to her, the world strongly desires toreturn