What is Shaktism?

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devi_bhakta

 

Shaktism, or simply Shakta (alternatively spelled Saktism, Sakthism;

Sakta, Saktha) is that branch of Hinduism that focuses worship upon

Devi, the Goddess. Shaktas worship Shakti as the Supreme Divine, just

as Shaivites worship Shiva as Supreme, and Vaishnavas worship Vishnu

(Krishna, Rama, etc) as Supreme.

 

Sir John Woodroffe writes, "The Shaktas [practitioners of Shaktism]

predominantly worship the left [side of the Ardhanaarishavara, see

previous post] and call her Mother, for She is the Great Mother, the

Mahadevi who conceives, bears, and nourishes the Universe sprung from

Her womb (Yoni). This is so because She is the active aspect of

Consciousness. The quiescent Shiva-aspect is by definition inert. It

is because of this that the Devi is in the Tantras symbolically

represented as being above [or atop] the body of Shiva, who lies under

Her like a corpse (shava). … When the Devi stands above Shiva, the

symbolism also denotes -- particularly in the case of Kali -- the

liberating aspect of the Mother."

 

Some persons consider Shaktism to be a lesser sub-cult of Hinduism

that does not ultimately lead to Moksha (Liberation) and union (Yoga)

with Pure Consciousness. But this perception is incorrect

 

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, a prominent Shaivite leader who

passed away just recently , accurately writes, "Shaktism [is] the

religion followed by those who worship the Supreme as the Divine

Mother - Shakti or Devi - in Her many forms, both gentle and fierce.

Shaktism is one of the four primary sects of Hinduism. Shaktism's

first historical signs are thousands of female statuettes dated ca.

5500 BCE, recovered at the Mehrgarh village in India.

 

"In philosophy and practice, Shaktism greatly resembles Saivism, both

faiths promulgating, for example, the same ultimate goals of advaitic

union with Siva and moksha. But Shaktas worship Shakti as the Supreme

Being exclusively, as the dynamic aspect of Divinity, while Siva is

considered solely transcendent and is not worshiped. There are many

forms of Shaktism, with endless varieties of practices which seek to

capture divine energy or power for spiritual transformation."