Who is Shakti?
Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "energy, ability, strength, effort, power, might, capability") in Hinduism, is the fundamental esoteric energy that underlies and sustains all existence. In Hindu theological view, Shakti is the energizing power of Hindu Gods. Conceived of as feminine in essence, Shakti is generally personified as the wife of a particular Hindu deity, especially of Shiva. Shiva and Shakti are held as the masculine and feminine principles that are complementary to each other. Shakti, as prakriti (nature) is believed to have brought the primal male (purusha) into existence. The feminine Shakti comes into being as part of the "lila" (divine play) with the masculine (Shiva), who is considered a passive complementary to the all-powerful active feminine. The God Shiva being "nonactivated Eternity", while the Shakti "activated Time". "Shiva without Shakti is but a corpse, it is said." The God Shiva says: "O Goddess I am the body (deha) and you are the co...
