Ardhanarishvara ( A repost )

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devi_bhakta

 

In both Shakta and Shaiva sects of Hinduism, Ultimate Reality is

conceived as the Divine Unity of Shakti (the Divine Feminine) and

Shiva (the Divine Masculine). They are One, They are All, They are

God.

 

In artistic depictions, this Supreme Reality is sometimes

represented as Ardhanarishvara - the conjoint form of Shiva (right

side) and Shakti (left side). The Ardhanarishvara is one of the great

themes of Hindu religious art -- for a collection of examples, see

the club Photo Album entitled, "Shakti-Shiva: Female-Male as One."

 

In Shaktism, we choose (or, more accurately, are chosen by Shakti)

approach the Supreme Divine from the Left Hand, or Feminine side. As

defined by the late (d. 2001), great Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami:

 

"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."

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe