Shakti Flashcards
What is Shakti? (+Adi Shakti)
Shakti is a concept or the personification of the divine feminine creative power which gives life all the living beings in the universe.
Adi Shakti = “first power” primitive & feminine in every being. embodiment of creativity + balance + completion. exists in all beings in form of Kundalini Shakti (shakti located at base of spine). from deep meditation, causes enlightenment + bliss
Involves Kundalini physically moving up the central channel to reach within the Shasrara Chakra at the top of the head
Awakening of Kundalini Shakti + experience?
Awaken Kundalini through meditation, pranayama breathing, the practice of asana & chanting of mantras.
Experience reported to be a feeling of electric current running along the spine
Why are women considered to be manifestations of Adi Shakti according to Hindu theology?
Because women have the power of creation + without women it would be difficult to sustain life on Earth.
She is the source of sustenance for all the beings on Earth who emerge from Her and go back into Her.
Shakti and Shiva?
Adi Shakti manifests Herself in the saguna form when She units with Shiva. She is the source from which Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are said to have originated.
Adi Shakti (Prakriti) unites with Shiva (Purusha) to start process of creation. She is feminine half of Shiva which helps Him to maintain the balance of the universe.
In Shaktism, what do the worshippers of Shakti believe?
They believe that Adi Shakti is the Supreme Brahman itself. All other forms which exists in the universe have originated from the divine energy. They worship the feminine along with Shiva, who is the masculine unit of divinity.
A woman is the creator of the universe, the universe is her form. A woman is the foundation of the world, she is the true form of the body.
Relevant female deities?
Durga, Kali, Sita, Lakshmi, Saraswati
Relevant male deities?
Brahma, Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu, Narasinha, Rama, Krishna
Key features + importance of Durga?
- Warrior goddess, armed by other gods to destroy a particular demon. 10 arms, each carrying a weapon + rides a tiger
- Destroyer of evil. Anger directed at those who would endanger her devotees or spread evil.
Key features + importance of Kali?
- Goddess of change & time
- Most fearful incarnation of Shakti
- Black body links to nature
- Holding a sword = release from the 8 things that binds humans to this life
- Belt of humans signify the need of work to escape samsara
- 50 heads around neck symbolise ruthlessness & 50 letters of Sanskrit alphabet
- 3 eyes = past, present & future
- Nakedness = free from curse of maya
- Consort = Shiva
- Worshipped through Bhakti Yoga, pilgrimages, gains protection & purer rebirth. Older times sacrificed humans & animals
Key importance + features of Sita?
- A woman of virtue
- Remembered for virtues/attributes
- Seen as perfect role model for women like her husband Rama is for men. Ideal daughter + wife + mother
- Regarded for her adherence to duty & fulfilling all that is noble
Key features + importance of Lakshmi?
- Goddess of wealth, prosperity, purity, generosity
- Embodiment of beauty, grace, charm
- Lakshmi = “good luck”
- Standing on lotus flower represents beauty, purity, fertility. hands hold gold coins, bestowing wealth. 4 hands = artha, dharma, karma, moksha
- Consort=Vishnu Vehicle= elephant/owl
- Worshipped during Divali. Offerings of foods, sweets, prayers
Key features + importance of Sarsawati?
- Goddess of knowledge, music & the arts
- River Goddess
- Dressed in white=purity. Scripts in hand=true knowledge. 4 hands=mind, intellect, alertness, ego
- Consort=Brahma Vehicle=white swan, absolute truth
