Shaktis of Shiva
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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, Adhva Vidhih, The Features of metaphysical cosmic path (adhva), vr. 32-34
- Shristi or Utpatti (both terms found in Agama) - can be better translated as 'emergence' or 'manifestation' than creation. As Swamiji has revealed, that one becomes many to enjoy itself, and the creation cannot be separate from the creator or created. * Dhatu – ‘Srj’ Srjati – means: to let go, release, emit from one's self
Shaktis of Sadashiva described in
the SADASHIVA TATTVA
Those who have reached the world of pure path (suddha adhva) through the appropriate initiation, Shaiva-sādhana based on knowledge, yoga, experiene various enjoyments which yield ultimate bliss (ananda). Upon the complete removal of the residue anava 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 Prakarana
| Shakti | Description | Agama Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mrigendra Agama, Ch. 13, Adhva Prakarana. Descriptions of Worlds, vr. 166- 170 |
| Pratistha Shakti | The Shakti by which Shiva obstructs firmly the chance of getting back to the worldy life [maya 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 | Mrigendra Agama, Ch. 13, Adhva Prakarana. Descriptions of Worlds, vr. 166- 170 |
| Vidya 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 Vidya. Name of World - Vidya Presiding Lord - Vidyadhipa | Mrigendra Agama, Ch. 13, Adhva Prakarana. Descriptions of Worlds, vr. 166- 170 |
| Santi Shakti | The Shakti by which Lord Shiva alleviates all sorts of miseries and impediments for the sake of such competent souls is called Santi. Name of World - Santi Presiding Lord - Santiman | Mrigendra Agama, Ch. 13, Adhva Prakarana. Descriptions of Worlds, vr. 166- 170 |
| 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 | Mrigendra Agama, Ch. 13, Adhva Prakarana. Descriptions of Worlds, vr. 171- 175 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mrigendra Agama, Ch. 13, Adhva Prakarana. Descriptions of Worlds, Mrigendra Agama, Ch. 13, Adhva Prakarana. Descriptions of Worlds, vr. 171- 175 vr. 171-175 |
| 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. | Mrigendra Agama, Ch. 13, Adhva Prakarana. Descriptions of Worlds, vr. 171- 175 |
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