the shaktis of sadashiva
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Shāstra Pramana on Shakti
परमेशात्पुराव्वाप्तमिदं ज्ञानामृतं मया।
तत्समासेन ते वक्ष्ये तत्त्वानां प्रतिसंचरम्॥ ७
प्रसन्नं परमं शान्तं अजं ईशानं अव्ययम्।
शिवतत्त्वं सुनिर्वाणं अच्युतं च सनातनम्॥ ८
parameśāt purāvāptam idam jñāmṛtam mayā |
tatsamāsena te vakṣye tattvānāṁ prati saṁcaram || 7 ||
prasannaṁ paramaṁ śāntaṁ ajam īśānaṁ avyayam |
śivatattvaṁ sunirvāṇaṁ acyutaṁ ca sanātanam || 8 ||
This nectarine knowledge was received by me earlier from the Supreme Lord Ananteshvara. Now I will reveal this knowledge to you collectively as well as briefly. This Shivatattvam is the one into which all the categories and evolutes are absorbed back. It is pure, bright and clear. It is identical with the transcendent supreme state. Being free from mutations and modifications, it is of the nature of untainted purity and undisturbed tranquility. It is unborn. Being identical with Shiva Himself, it is in eternal existence.
It never gets shrouded by the darkness of untruth and ignorance. It is the exalted state of absolute dissolution, representing the nature of supreme bliss and total Oneness with Lord S'iva. Through the continued transmission, it is flourishing from time immemorial.
तस्मात्तेजः सुसंपूर्णं शक्त्यष्टक समन्वितम् ।
विभिन्नं त्वष्टधा भूयः शिवेच्छाविधिचोदितम् ।। ९
अनन्तेशस्ततः पूर्वं ततः सूक्ष्मः शिवोत्तमः ।
एकनेत्रैकरुद्रो च त्रिमूर्तिश्चानलद्युतिः ।। १०
श्रीकण्ठश्च शिखण्डी च सूर्यकोटि समप्रभौ ।
अष्टावेते महात्मानस्तस्मात्तेजो विनिःसृताः ।। ११
tasamattejaḥ susampūrṇaṁ śaktyaṣṭaka samanvitam | vibhinnam tvaṣṭadhā bhuyah śivecchā vidhicoditam || 9 || ananteśastataḥ purvam tataḥ sukṣmaḥ sivottamaḥ | ekantraikarudro ca trimurtiścānala-dyutih || 10 || śrikaṇṭhaśca śikhandī ca suryakoṭi samaprabhau | aṣṭāvete mahātmānas-tasmattejo viniḥsṛtaḥ || 11 ||
From the supreme state of total Oneness (susampurnam) with Shiva, an effulgent column of light, undivided wholeness, appeared associated with 8 Shaktis, shaktya-aśtaka. Next, it got variegated again into 8 luminous souls as willed and stimulated by Shiva's Iccha Shakti, power of Will. These 8 luminous souls are: Ananteshwara, Sukshma, Sivottama, Ekanetra, Ekarudra, Trimurti, who was as resplendent as fire, Srikantha and Shikhandi. All of them were with immeasurable brilliance of 10 million suns. There were 8 Shivas, the Great Vidyeshvaras, who manifested from that luminous column.
~ Raurava Agama, Vidyā Pādaḥ, Shiva-tattvaṇi, vr. 9-11
Shaktis of Sadashiva described in the Sadashiva Tattva
Following are the direct words of Bhagavan Sadashiva, expanding on His various Shaktis and His true essence, Sadashiva Tattva. His powers, Shaktis are His unqiue rays and non-different from Him.
"Those who have reached the world of pure path (suddha adhva) through the appropriate initiation, Shaiva-sādhana based on knowledge, yoga, experience various enjoyments which yield ultimate bliss (ananda). Upon the complete removal of the residue Aanava Mala, they attain the supreme state, tat padam [sāyujya]. Since they are wholly engrossed in the supreme bliss which is their own essential nature, they do not perform the Cosmic actions such as śristhi, etc. Thus, the nature of SADĀSHIVA TATTVA has been briefly explained to you.
~ Mrigendra Agama, Ch. 13, Adhva Prakaranam, Descriptions of the Worlds in different planes of 'bhuvana adhva', verses 166-175
| Shakti | Description |
|---|---|
| Nivrutti Shakti | The Shaktis by which Shiva unfolds the power of all- knowing and power of all-doing for Sadashiva and other Lords are known by the specific names Nivrutti and others. The Shaktis by which Shiva enables the competent souls to be abstracted from the worlds and the worldly beings (which are of 14 kinds), and direct them towards the final liberation is called Nivrutti. - Name of World - Prathistha - Presiding Lord of this world - Nivruttimān |
| Shakti | Description |
|---|---|
| Pratistha Shakti | The Shakti by which Shiva obstructs firmly the possibility of getting back to the worldy life [māyā matrix] and transmigration for the competent souls who have turned towards liberation and stabilizes their convinction is called 'Prathistha.' - Name of World - Prathistha. - Presiding Lord - Pratisthadhipati |
| Vidyā Shakti | The Shakti by which Lord Shiva graciously gives the direct intuitional knowledge related to all the categories to such component souls, making them to transcend the knowledge based on perception, inference and others, is called Vidyā. Name of World - Vidyā Presiding Lord - Vidyādhipa |
| Santi Shakti | The Shakti by which Lord Shiva alleviates all sorts of miseries and impediments for the sake of such competent souls is called Sānti. Name of World - Santi Presiding Lord - Santiman |
| Indhika, Dipika, Rocika | The Shakti by which Lord Shiva gives great brightness, greater brightness, still more greater brightness to the competent souls enabling them to view the wholeness of all the created worlds and the worldly objects and liberates them from all traces of the primal bond (pāśa) are known as Indhika, Dipika, Rocika. Name of World - Indhika, Dipika, Rocika Presiding Lord - Indhikavān, Dipikavān, Rochikavān |
| Mocikā | The Vidyeshvaras and other Lords are in the state of being directed and controlled by the Supreme Lord because of the prevalence of the shade of 'ānava mala' in them. The Shakti by which Lord Shiva grants the final liberation known as 'SĀYUJYA' to such Vidyeshvaras and others is called Mocikā. World where this shakti exists- Mocikā Presiding Lord - Mocikāvan |
| Shakti | Description |
|---|---|
| Urdhvaga | The Shakti by which Lord Shiva installs such Vidyeshvaras at the state of absolute lordship is called Urdhvaga. World where this shakti exists- Urdhvaga Presiding Lord – Urdhvagadhipati * Shiva intalls 8 souls known as Vidyeshvaras in the Ishvar tattva, who are free from the bonds of māyā and karma, and fit to be stationed in the plane of Lord Shiva. 8 Vidyeshvaras are – Ananta, Sukshma, Sivottama, Ekanetra, Ekarudra, Trimurti, Srikantha and Sikhandi. |
The original verses from Agama
करोत्युन्मीलनं याभिश्शक्तिभिर्नरत तेजसः।
ता निवृत्त्यादि संज्ञानां भुवनानां अधीश्वराः॥ १६६
निवर्तयति भूतानि यया साऽस्य निवर्तका।
निवृत्तिरिति तत्स्थानं तत्रेशोऽपि निवृत्तिमान्॥ १६७
निवृत्तस्य गतिर्भूयो यया प्रच्यावलक्षणा।
निषिध्यते प्रतिष्ठा सा स्थानं तद्द्वांश्च तत्पतिः॥ १६८
त्यक्तवात्मगम्यविषयं यया ज्ञानं ददात्यणोः।
सा विद्या स्थानमप्यस्या विद्येशश्च तदीश्वरः॥ १६९
सर्वदुःखप्रशमनं ययाऽस्य कुरुते हरः।
सा शान्तिस्तत्पदं चेति तत्कुर्वन् सोऽपि शक्तिमान्॥ १७०
karotyunmīlanaṁ yabhiśśaktibhirnaratejasaḥ |
ta nivṛtyādi sajñānaṁ bhuvanānaṁ adhisvarāḥ || 166 ||
nivartayati bhutani yayā sa'sya nivartaka |
nivṛttiriti tatsthanaṁ tatreśo'pi nivṛttimān || 167 ||
nivṛttasya gatirbhuyo yayā pracyāvalakṣaṇā |
niṣidhyate pratiṣtha sā sthanaṁ tadvāśca tatpatiḥ || 168 ||
tyaktvātma-gamyaviṣayaṁ yayā jñānaṁ dadatyaṇoḥ |
sā vidyā sthānamapyasyā vidyeśaśca tadīsvaraḥ || 169 ||
sarvadukhapraśamanaṁ yayā'sya kurute haraḥ |
sā śantistatpadaṁ ceti tatkurvan so'pi saktimān || 170 ||
ऊर्ध्वाधो विषयालोको महान् यश्च महत्तरः।
महत्तमश्च क्रियते चितो याभिर्विमुच्यतः॥ १७१
ता इन्धिकाद्यास्तत्स्थानं तद्वानीशस्तिसृष्वपि।
सर्वज्ञत्वादियोगेऽपि नियोज्यत्वं मलांशतः॥ १७२
प्रमार्ष्टि तद्यया साऽस्य मोचिका तत्पदं च तत्।
मोचकस्तत्क्रियाकृच्च ययेशानं करोति तम्॥ १७३
सोर्ध्वगा तत्पदं चेति तदीशश्चोर्ध्वगा पतिः।
येऽपि तत्पदमापन्नः शैवसाधन योगतः॥ १७४
ते तत्स्थित्यन्तमानन्दं प्राप्य यान्ति परं पदम्।
न च सृष्ट्यादि कुर्वन्ति स्वार्थनिष्ठा हि ते यतः॥ १७५
इति सादाशिवं तत्त्वं व्याख्यातं लेशतस्तव।
शक्तावप्येवमित्येष सकलः कृत्य योगतः॥ १७६
कृत्यं तदादिविषयं निष्कलोऽन्यत्र सर्वदा।
भूमिप्राधानिक ग्रन्थि विद्याबिन्दु कलादिषु॥ १७७
गुणकारा दशाद्यास्स्युः नादकोटैरधो मुने।
ऊर्ध्वं कलाया विद्याधश्श्रूयन्ते गहनाधिपाः॥ १७८
तदन्तराळमेतावद् इति धीजाऽत्र लक्षणा।
द्वयोरप्यध्वनोरेवं क्रमप्रसव योगिनोः॥ १७९
विलयः प्रातिलोम्येन शक्ति तत्त्वद्वयावधिः।
urdhvardho viṣayāloko mahān yaśca mahattaraḥ |
mahattamaśca kriyate cito yabhirvimucyataḥ || 171 ||
tā indhikadyāstatsthānaṁ tadvanīśastisṛvapi |
sarvajñatvadiyoge'pi niyojyatvaṁ malāsataḥ || 172 ||
pramarṣi tadyayā sā'sya mocikā tatpadaṁ ca tat |
mocakastatikṛiyakṛcca yayeśānaṁ karoti tam || 173 ||
sordhvagā tatpadaṁ ceti tadīśaścordhvargā patiḥ |
ye'pi tatpadamapannaḥ saivasādhana yogataḥ || 174 ||
te tatsthityantamānandaṁ prapya yānti paraṁ padam |
na ca sṛṭayādi kurvanti svarthāniṣṭhā hi te yataḥ || 175 ||
iti sadāsiva tattvaṁ vyākhyataṁ leśatastava |
śaktāvapyevamityeṣa sakalaḥ kṛtya yogataḥ || 176 ||
kṛtyaṁ tadādiviṣayaṁ niṣkalo'nyatra sarvadā |
bhūmiprādhānika granthi vidyābindu kalādiṣu || 177 ||
guṇakārā daśādyāssyuḥ nādakoṭeradho mune |
ūrdhvaṁ kalāyā vidyādhaśśrūyante gahanādhipāḥ || 178 ||
tadantarālametavad iti dhījātra lakṣaṇā |
dvayorapyadhvanorevaṁ kramaprasava yoginoḥ || 179 ||
vilayaḥ prātilomyena śakti tattvadvayāvadhi |
Form of Bhagavan Sadashiva, and His Shaktis
तिस्रस्तु शक्तयो ज्ञेयाः कारणस्याव्ययात्मनः ।
वामा ज्येष्ठा च रौद्री च शक्तयः समुदाहृताः ।।
ज्ञानशक्तिः क्रियाशक्तिः शक्तिद्वयमनन्तरम् ।
ज्ञानशक्तिः शिवा नित्यसृष्टिसंहारकृत्क्रिया ।।
सद्यो वामो ऽप्यघोरश्च पुरुषेशान एव च ।
सकलस्तु शिवो ह्येष निष्कलस्तु सदाशिवः ।।
tisrastu śaktayo jñeyāḥ kāraṇasyāvyayātmanaḥ | vāmā jyeṣṭṭhā ca raudrī ca śaktayaḥ samudāhṛtāḥ || 32 || jñānaśaktiḥ kriyāśaktiḥ śaktidvayam anantaram | jñānaśaktiḥ śivā nityasṛṣṭisaṁhārakṛt-kriyāḥ || 33 || sadyo vāmo'apyaghoraś'ca puruṣeśāna eva ca | sakalastu śivo hyeṣa niṣkalastu sadāśivaḥ || 34 ||
It is to be known that there are 3 Shaktis belonging to the Supreme Lord Shiva, who is the primal cause, kāraṇa, and who is with imperishable and inexhaustible powers, avyayātmanaḥ. They are Vāma, Jyeshtha and Raudri. Apart from these 3 Shaktis, there are 2 Shaktis for the Lord, they are Jnana Shakti and Kriya Shakti. Of these two, Jnana Shakti is of the nature of Shiva Mantras, and Kriya Shakti become instrumental for the continued performance of 5 Cosmic functions such as shristi, emergence or manifestation, nitya, sustenance, samhāra, absorption, and others. There are three states for Shiva - sakala, nishkala and sakala-nishkala. There are 4 mantras
- Sadya, Vāma, Aghora, Tatapurusha and Ishana - which constitute the divine form of Shiva. Shiva is known as Sadashiva when He is in sakala-nishkala state.
~ Raurava Agama, Vidya Pada of Srimad Kamika Agama, Adhva Vidhih, The Features of metaphysical cosmic path (adhva), vr. 32-34
8 Shaktis, How Bhagavān Sadashiva sets Māyā Chakra in motion and Absorbs It.
from Adhikāra-tattva Prakaraṇam, Sadashiva Tattva
Agama source: Matanga Pārameshwara Agama, Vidya Pāda by Lord Srikantha
Sadashiva tattva explains and expands on
• 3 states of Lord Sadashiva – Nishkala Shiva, Bhoga Shiva and Adhikara Shiva • How He is the source and authority of Vidyeshvaras and Shaktis and, • How He manifests Himself through His Shaktis, powers in the māyā chakra and liberates the beings through His Guru anugraha.
“Lord Parameshti (Sadashiva) exists and expresses His Divinity over the worlds, being fully powered and established in Yoga [yogena- adhishthitam] by the Supreme Shaktis. These are His own Shaktis who pervade everywhere without being impeded by any limiting forces.
There Shaktis are – Ishānī, Apūranī, Hārdī, Vāmā, Mūrti (Panchāmī). Lord Paramesha (Sadashiva) is always powered by His Shaktis. He showers various enjoyments in the worlds of all adhvas (paths) by sending forth pure drops from His mouth. He is surrounded by luminous rays emitted by His own Shaktis and by 8 Vidyesvaras who are endowed with qualities of Bhagavān SHIVA, and who are setting the wheel of Māyā, Māyā Chakra in motion giving rise to evolution. These 8 Vidyeshvaras have taken possession of exceeding power and prowess through the grace of Shiva, and they are always fulfilling the command given by the Supreme Lord, Sadashiva.
There are 3 more Shaktis – Hārinī, Jananī, Rodhayitrī. O Mahamuni, Great Sage! These 8 Shaktis are said to be constituting the form of Sadashiva, to be appearing as the body of Sadashiva. There are 8 aspects of the Great Ishvara, Mahesha and these 8 aspects present themselves in the form of 8 Shaktis (of Sadashiva).