Shakti, ParaShakti, Adi Para shakti ..... beyond MaYa Shakti?

[Guest guest]

Member Govinda-ji asks

 

( What is the diference between Shakthi , Paraa Shakthi and Adi

ParaaShakthi. ?)

 

And our learned member Sadaji responds

 

( They all sound like maaya shakti to me! )

 

The word 'Shakti' is derived from the root word'shak' which means

to 'energize' or 'enable', empower, and prowess.

 

In Hinduism, Shakti is the Great Mother Goddess who is the Divine

Cosmic ENERGY or the Life soul ... She is the Creatrix who is also

the womb of the Universe.

 

 

Everything in this Universe is because of Her prEsence --- Mind,

Matter , Thought, Will, imagination etc is all because of Shakti -

power or energy... She is also Pure Consciousness -Chid Shakti, in

her highest aspect.

 

 

Deepak Chopra in his Book, Path of Love Describes Shakti in all her

aspects very eloquently ....

 

Chitta Shakti: the awareness of God

Ananda Shakti: the bliss of God

Icha Shakti: the desire or intention to unite with God

Gyana Shakti: knowledge of God

Kriya Shakti: action directed toward God

 

If the voice of God spoke to you, Her powers would be conveyed in

simple, universal phrases:

 

Chitta Shakti: "I am."

Ananda Shakti: "I am blissful."

Icha Shakti: "I will" or "I intend."

Gyana Shakti: "I know."

Kriya Shakti: "I act."

 

Beloved Chitta observed in a recent post ...

 

" She is everything. She who opens our eyes is none other than

Brahman."

 

Verse 2 in Saundarya Lahari Describes Her Greatness thus ...

 

Taniyamsam pamsam tava carana -pankeruha-bhavam

Virincih samchinvan viracayati lokan avikalam ;

vahaty enam Saurih katham api sahasrena sirasam

Harah samksudy'ainam bhajati bhasito'ddhulana-vidhim.

 

Gathering a minute particle of dust from thy Lotus Feet, Brahma the

Creator brings into being this Universe ( limitless and mysterious )

without any imperfection. The Maintainer Vishnu as Adisesha somehow

supports this Universe (made out of that dust) with his Thousand

hoods, and Hara , the destroyer, crushing it into powder , rubs the

ashes all over His body at the time of dissolution.

 

Yes! The Universe is described as a mere speck of dust of Devi's

feet! She is the 'Regal' power - SRI SRI Raja Rajeshwari, the empress

of the Universe!

 

and verse 3 of Sundara Lahari also says She is the Light of

SPIRITUAL iLLUMINATION ( opens our ajna chakra)

 

Avidyanam antas-timira-mihira-dvipa-nagari

Jadanam caitanya-stabaka-makarmala-sruti jhari ;

daridranam cinta-mani-gunanika janma-jaladhau

nimagnanim damstra mura-ripu-varahasya bhavati

 

The dust of the thy feet is the Island City, wherefrom takes place

the luminous sun-rise of *Spiritual Illumination* driving away the

over-casting darkness ogf Ignorance in the hearts of devotees. It

forms the cluster of flower buds, from which gushes forth the nectar

of intelligence, enlivening the dull-witted. It is a veritable

necklace of wish-yielding gems for the poverty-stricken. And for

those immersed in the ocean of Samsara , it becomes their uplifter

like the Tusk of Vishnu ( which raised the earth from submergence in

Pralaya waters when He incarnated as the Cosmic Boar)

 

( Sundarya Lahari - Swami Tapasayananda of Sri Ramakrishna mutt)

 

As you can see, Shakti is 'power' absolute and she is also 'Love'

incarnate looking after the spiritual and material welfare of her

Devotees.

 

Sadaji described All the Shaktis as MaYa Shakti!

 

Please read what the great Tantrik Shakta Sir ARTHUR AVALON says...

 

"According to the Sakta exposition of Advaitavada, Maya is not an

unconscious (jada) principle but a particular Shakti of Brahman.

Being Shakti, it is at base consciousness, but as Maya-Shakti it is

Consciousness veiling Itself. Shakti and Shaktiman are one and the

same: that is, Power and its Possessor (Shaktiman). Therefore Maya-

Shakti is Shiva or Cit in that particular aspect which He assumes as

the material cause (Upadanakarana) in creation. Creation is real;

that is, there is a direct causal nexus between Shiva as Shakti (Cit-

Shakti and Maya-Shakti) and the universe. In short Shiva as Shakti is

the cause of the universe, and as Shakti, in the form of Jiva (all

manifested forms, He actually evolves. Comparing these two views; --

Shamkara says that there is in absolute truth no creation and

therefore there can be no question how it arose. This is because he

views the problem from the transcendental (Paramarthika) standpoint

of self-realization or Siddhi. The Sakta Shastra, on the other hand,

being a practical Sadhana Shastra views the matter from our, that is

the Jiva, standpoint. To us the universe and ourselves are real. And

Ishvara the Creator is real. Therefore there is a creation, and Shiva

as Shakti creates by evolving into the Universe, and then appearing

as all Jivas. This is the old Upanishadic doctrine of the spider

actually evolving the web from itself, the web being its substance in

that form. A flower cannot be raised from seed unless the flower was

in some way already there. Therefore as there is an "Aham" and "Idam"

in our experience, in some way it is in the supreme experience of

Parashiva or Parasamvit. But the Idam or Universe is not there as

with us; otherwise It would be Jiva. Therefore it is said that there

are two principles or aspects in the Brahman, namely, that Prakasha

or Cit aspect, and Vimarsha Shakti, the potential Idam, which in

creation explicates into the Universe. But in the supreme experience

or Amarsha, Vimarsha Shakti (which has two states) is in Its supreme

form. The subtler state is in the form of consciousness (Cidrupini);

the gross state is in the form of the Universe (Vishvarupini). The

former is beyond the universe (Vishvottirna). But if Vimarsha Shakti

is there in the form of consciousness (Cidrupini), it is one with

Cit. Therefore it is said that the Aham and Idam, without ceasing to

be in the supreme experience, are in supreme Shiva in

undistinguishable union as Cit and Cidrupini. This is the Nirguna

state of Shivashakti. As She is then in undistinguishable union with

Shiva, She is then also simple unmanifested Cit. She is then Caitanya-

rupa or Cidrupini: a subtle Sanskrit expression which denotes that

She is the same as Cit and yet suggests that though in a present

sense She is one with Him, She is yet in a sense (with reference to

Her potentiality of future manifestation) different from Him. She is

Sacchidanandamayi and He is Sacchidananda. "

 

(http://www.sacred-texts.com/tantra/sas/sas14.htm - 67k - Cached )

 

Govinda ! To answer your question She is

 

Shakti - the COSMIC ENERGY

 

Para Shakti - The Supreme Energy

 

Adi Para Shakti - The PRIMAL ENERGY

 

and our most respected Anandaji has posted a great poem on Rupa and

swarupa ! WONDERFUL INDEED ! A GREAT GIFT TO ME ON MY SPECIAL DAY ( )

 

Yes, The Great Goddess is also the Absolute Reality .. ( PARA-

BRAHMAN) but under the influence of Avidya MaYa , jiva has forgotton

its true nature ( svarupa) .

 

Yes! Dear ones! if you meditate on Her Rupa ( various forms-

appearance ) She will let you know her true nature. ( swarupa-

Reality)

 

join me in honoring Shakti, the great goddess as

 

1) Amba-Sharika in Kashmir

 

2) Kali in Dakshineshwar, Calcutta

 

3) Visalakshi in Kasi

 

4) Meenakshi in Madurai

 

5) Kamakshi in Kanchi

 

6) Sarada of Sringeri

 

7) Chamundeshwari in Mysore

 

8) Bhagvati in Kerala

 

JAI AMBE DURGE BHAVANI MAA !!!!!!!!!!

 

(edited version)