Shaktism
Definition of Shaktism
[Fact 1]: As expressed by the nineteenth-century saint Ramakrishna, one of the most influential figures in modern Bengali Shaktism: "Kali is none other than Brahman.
[Fact 2]: 1.Shaktism's focus on the Divine Feminine does not imply a rejection of Masculine or Neuter divinity.
[Fact 3]: 734. The most important Shakta festival is Navratri .
[Fact 4]: In the details of its philosophy and practice, Shaktism resembles Shaivism.
[Fact 5]: 376-412.In sum, the complex social and historical interrelations of Tantric and non-Tantric elements in Shaktism – and Hinduism in general – are an extremely fraught and nuanced topic of discussion.[Hauser, Scott, "Rediscovering a Lost Spiritual 'Book'," Rochester Review, Spring 2006, Vol.
][Fact 6]: For example, the late Shaiva leader Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami taught that worship of the feminine manifest is merely a vehicle for reaching the masculine unmanifest, or Parasiva.[Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, "Who Is the Greatest God?," Hinduism Today.]Such slights and misperceptions, however, are given little weight by serious Shakta theologians, who teach that each of the Divine Mother's forms is a Brahma Vidya, or path to supreme wisdom.
[Fact 7]: The hugely popular Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu observes its major Navaratri celebration during this period.["About Vasanta Navratri," About Hinduism.] Ashada Navaratri, on the other hand, is considered particularly auspicious for devotees of the boar-headed goddess Varahi, one of the seven Matrikas named in the Devi Mahatmya.["Regaling Varahi with different 'alankarams' in 'Ashada Navaratri'," July 24, 2007, The Hindu.]Lakshmi Puja is observed by Shaktas and many other Hindus on the full moon night following the autumn Durga Puja.["Lakshmi: Goddess of Wealth & Beauty! What You Need to Know," About Hinduism.]Lakshmi's biggest festival, however, is Diwali celebrate it as another Lakshmi Puja, placing small oil lamps outside their homes and praying for the goddess's blessings.["Diwali Festival", DiwaliFestival.org.] Diwali coincides with the celebration of Kali Puja, popular in Bengal, and some Shakta traditions focus their worship on Devi as Kali rather than Lakshmi.["Kali Pooja in Bengal," Diwali Festival.org.]Jagaddhatri Puja is celebrated on the last four days of the Navaratis, following Kali Puja.
[Fact 8]: However, both are deemed to be inactive in the absence of Shakti.
[Fact 9]: Moreover, even within the tradition there are wide differences of opinion regarding the proper interpretation of the panchamakara, and some lineages reject them altogether.[Woodroffe, pp.
][Fact 10]: Meenakshi Kalyanam observes the auspicious occasion of Devi's marriage – or, at best, to Shaivism.
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