SHAKTI “ The Energy that has no beginning nor an end”
The curiosity of trying to understand the very true essence of Adi ParaShakti got me into giving you all a small write as did my own reading and understanding of this beautiful yet powerful energy. There are many scriptures portraying the same energy in different ways. Let me give you a small glimpse of my own understanding of this divine energy.
Adi ParaShakti is also simply referred to as Mahadevi, Devi and Shakti. She is the primordial Goddess or Divine mother in Hinduism. It is strongly believed that Adi Shakti is the supreme being, manifested as the feminine holy trinity. Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Parvati. Here there is a slight difference: the Shivites consider Goddess Parvati to be the primary form whereas the Vaishnavs consider it to be Goddess Lakshmi.
Adi Shakti is also known as Mahamaya and has her own power that was within the Lord Shiva. She was formed from the powers of Lord Shiva. So it’s natural that Mahamaya Adi Shakti will spontaneously choose Lord Shiva as her husband. Adi Parashakti means “ First Supreme Energy”. When we break it up further Adi means beginning and shakti refers to a power beyond the physical universe. The term comes from the root śak, meaning “to be able”.
Let’s try to understand a little more about how different faiths have their thoughts and perceptions. According to Shiva Purana it says Adi Shakti incarnated in materialistic form as Parama Prakriti from the left half of Lord Shiva during the beginning of the Universe. Whereas in Linga Purana it is stated that Adi Shakti brings forth the evolution of life in every universe through the union of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva in all of the Universes.
At the same time in Skanda Purana and Markandeya Purana talks about the Goddess Parvati as divine mother of all creation and trusts material form of Adi Shakti. The Devi Gita, speaks about the incarnation as Goddess Parvati; it speaks about how she appeared to the Himalayan king. Giving him eternal knowledge and revealing the divine self. She beautifully explains herself saying that she has no beginning not an end. She’s only the eternal truth. The whole universe is her creation. She is only the Victor and the manifestation of victory itself. She further says that she is manifested, un-manifested and transcendent divinity. When she displayed her form she showed herself with Satyaloka located in her forehead, the created universe was in her hair, the sun and the moon were her eyes. In her ears were the four directions, the Vedas were her words, death affection and emotions were her teeth Maya was manifested by her smile.
It is also believed that the goddess in the form of Kushmanda gives birth to the universe in the form of a cosmic egg which manifests as the universe. Ultimately, Adi Shakti herself has zero energy but exists even after destruction of the universe and before it’s creation.
When one reads the Srimad Devi Bhagwat, it is believed that the goddess states as follows when she addresses the Trimurthi “ I am Adi Parashakti, I am the owner of this universe and I am the absolute reality. I am dynamic in feminine form and static in masculine form. You have appeared to govern the universe through my energy. You are the masculine form of absolute reality but I am the feminine form of absolute reality. I am beyond form, beyond everything and all the powers of God are contained within me. You must know that I am the eternal limitless energy”.
She then went on to say that Lord Brahma, “you will be the generator of the universe, the goddess Saraswati is your consort, she will be recognized as the goddess of wisdom and the primeval sound. Lord Brahma, this goddess will be with you when you create the universe. She then looked towards Lord Narayan( Vishnu)
You are formless, yet you take form. I assign you to be the preserver of the universe. You will take different incarnations in order to save this universe's inhabitants. Oh! Narayana you have created Brahma and Brahma will further create 33 kinds of gods and goddesses. I am goddess Mahamaya, I reappear from your mystic sleep. Your consort will be Goddess Lakshmi. Lord Vishnu this goddess will be with you when you rule and maintain the universe. When life evolves, you will take the form of Vishnu the one who performs tasks of observing and preserving this universe.
At last she turned to load Shiva, you are the personification of time, which is above all. You will perform the task of destroying and re-generating this universe. When you are formless, time stands still. It is due to my power that you become dynamic and capable of bringing about destruction and regeneration of this universe. MahaKali is myself, my full form and due to meditation, you will surpass all my forms. It is then that I will incarnate from your left half in my manifested form. Lord Shiva, she will perform the task of destroying evil and will be your consort.
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Shakti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Power,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
( Referred to Vedic Scriptures and Wikipedia )
Penned by The Spiritual Princess- JayaPalashri Anil
Founder- Samskara Healing
