Shakti Shanthi

Shakti Shanthi can be best understood as worship of the goddess in her various forms throughout the religions of South Asia. Generally speaking, the Hindu tradition can be divided into three categories: Vaishnavism, devotion to Vishnu; Shaivitism, veneration of Shiva; and Shaktism, worship of the goddess. The roots of the Shakti tradition can be found mainly in two Puranic texts, the Devi Mahatmya, or “The Specific Greatness of the Goddess,” and the Durga-Saptashati, or “The Seven Hundred Verses of Durga.” Both texts detail the great exploits of the goddess in her various forms. For example, the Devi Mahatmya relays the myth of the goddess's birth and her epic battle against the Buffalo Demon. In this text, the goddess takes on a wrathful persona, Kali, to finally overcome the demonic army. This story and the Durga-Saptashati form the textual basis for Shakti veneration in the Hindu tradition.

Although it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of devotees worldwide, there have been traditionally large populations of adherents in northwest India, where the texts were believed to have been originally composed, and in the eastern state of West Bengal. Shaktism tends to take on three distinct forms: Folk Shaktism, Tantric Shaktism, and Bhakti Shaktism. Although the texts cited do form the doctrinal cornerstones of this movement, there has been a long folk tradition of Shakti worship. In rural villages today, there are shrines devoted to the goddess Ambika, an ancient local deity who has the power to bestow blessings and curse enemies. Stories even tell of her murti, or image, leaving her shrine because she was unhappy with the veneration and offerings she was receiving.

Tantric Shaktism has its traditional home in West Bengal, but because of increased politicization of anything Tantric, most modern practitioners are reluctant to publicly acknowledge their connection to the tradition. The practices of Tantra rely heavily on the use of ritual and meditation to gain a spiritual connection with the goddess. In this tradition, physical objects and places can contain energy that is considered spiritually potent. Through the use of mantras, yantras, and other implements of ritual along with the guidance of a qualified guru tantrikas, Tantric practitioners strive to create and maintain a relationship with the goddess. This often causes the manifestation of spiritual powers such as precogni-tion, extrasensory perception, and even sometimes possession by the goddess herself.

The term Bhakti translates to devotion. It is the final category of worship. This involves: chanting of sacred texts, mantras, and the goddess's name; singing of bha-jan, or devotional love songs; making offerings to the goddess's murti; visualizations of the goddess; and prayers to her. These types of practices help the devotee establish particular relations with the goddess. Some foster a mother-child relationship, but others may opt for a teacher-student encounter with the goddess.

As Shaktism began to encounter modern Western culture, its appearance and practice evolved. June McDaniel, author of Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls, points out that there are three emerging trends: First, Shakti tantra has become a practice of hedonism wherein sexuality alone is the spiritual path. Second, Kundalini Yoga is now a means of staying physically fit. Third, the veneration of Hindu goddesses is limited if practiced at all. Despite this, Shaktism is much alive and well in India. It is still practiced in its traditional modalities abroad, regardless of how it has been changed by modern popular

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