Shakti

Shakti

1. Beliefs

   • she's a goddess in her own right and can be worshipped without a male consort
     • JAMISON : "the goddesses may also... be worshipped in their own right"
   • the term means female power and she represents all female goddesses like Kali, Lakshmi and Pavarti
   • believed that the female provides the male with the power he needs to function
     • JAMISON : "the goddess provides the power for the god to function, without her he is incomplete"

2. Physical Features

   • she takes on any form, is the divine image to reflect supernatural power, holds trident - shows she is held high by devotees
     • she holds up one hand in saying "do not fear I will protect you" known as Mudra
   • when seen as Kali she has four arms, holding scimitar, a head of a demon, one hand is open and the other is holding a spear. she has two heads of demons in place of earrings and a necklace of skulls, her tongue is blood red and she is shown next to Shiva with one food on his breast and one on his thigh
     • JAMISON : "only when Shiva is united with Shakti does he have the power to create"

3. Characteristics & Nature

   • represents motherhood as she cares and protects her children, her devotees and she represents the feminine energy,
   • JAMISON : "her care and love for her human children are so great that she will take any form, risk any situation to care and protect them"
   • she is the destroyer of evil, protector and gives welfare to villages, curer of diseases

4. Practises & Worship

   • there are 51 important centres of Shakti worship in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Tibet and Pakistan - they are known as Shakti Peethas
   • LING : "the goddess is thus thought of by the Shaktas as fierce, hungry and violent, needing to be approached by offerings of some form of life"

5. Reasons for Popularity

   • represents the female divinity & power - popular with women in India as they are looked down on, gives them a feeling of importance as male deities need female ones
   • LING : "the goddess represents the force of nature, upon which the life of man was seen to depend"
   • offers protection for devotees so popular with mothers who wish to protect children & family
   • shows loving, protecting, caring side of god - gives devotees a sense of relationship with god

6. Significance & Importance

   • FLOOD : "hinduism is the only world religion to worship female goddesses"
   • unification of Shakti and the male power shows the importance of men and women uniting
     • JAMISON : "Shakti and Shiva are united in one being, only one half of the body being male and one being female"
   • important in a family setting as it gives model husband and wife who support one another