Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

SHAKTI AND SHAKTA

We must however in all cases distinguish between what a School says of itself and what others say of it. So far as lam aware all Agamas, whatever be their origin, claim now to be based on Shruti, though of course as different interpretations are put on Shruti, those who accept one interpretation are apt to speak of differing Schools as heretical. These main divisions again have subdivisions. Thus there are several Schools of Shaivas; and there are Shaktas with their nine Amnayas, four Sampradayas (Kerala, Kashmira, Gauda and Vildsa) each divided into twofold division of inner and outer worship (Sammohana Tantra Ch. V.) There is for instance the N orthern Shaiva School called Trika of Kashmir, in which country at one time the Tantra Shastra was very prevalent. There is again the Southern Shaiva School called Shaivasiddhanta. The Shaktas who are to be found throughout India are largely prevalent in Bengal and Assam. The Sk&ktas are rather allied with the Northern Advaita Shaiva than with the others, though in them also there is worship of Shakti. Shiva and Shakti are one and he who worships one necessarily worships the other. But whereas the Shaiva predominantly worships Shiva, the Shakta predominantly worships the Shakti side of the Ardhanarishvara Mirti, which is both Shiva and Shakti.

Mahavishnu and Sadashiva are also one. As the Sammohana Tantra (Ch. VIII) says “ Without Prakriti the Sangsara (World) cannot be. Without Purusha true knowledge cannot be attained. Therefore should both be worshipped ; with Mahakali, Mahakala.” Some, it says, speak of Shiva, some of Shakti, some of N arayana (Vishnu). But the supreme Narayana (Adinarayana) is supreme Shiva (Parashambhu), the Nirguna Brahman pure as crystal. The two aspects of the Supreme reflect the one in the other. The reflection (Pratibimba) is Maya whence the World-Lords (Lokapalas) and the Worlds are born. The Adya Lalita (Mahashakti) at one time assumed the male form of Krishna