Parashakti

This article is about the Saivite concept. For Supreme being form of Shaktism, see Adi Parashakti. For other uses, see Parasakthi (disambiguation).

Parashakti (IAST: Paraśakti, Sanskrit: पराशक्ति)[1] or Parā refers to Shakti in her unmanifest state before manifesting in the physical realm.[2]

In Siddhantic perspective, Parashakti is the counterpart of Paramshiva—an epithet for the ultimate form of Shiva in Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmiri Shaivism. Parashakti is the power of this primordial Shiva, and is emanated from him.[3]

In the Trika system of Kashmir Shaivism, Parashakti is one of the three chief goddesses along with Aparā and Parparā.[4][5] Parashakti is the supreme being in puranic Shaktism and Shri Vidya traditions.

Parā in Trika

Main article: Trika

Trika is a Non-Saiddhantic Mantra Margic Saivite sect that praises Parā, Aparā, and Parāparā as three supreme goddesses. These three represent the three prongs of Shiva's Trishula and they can be meditated upon in the Trishulabja Mandala. The three aspects emerge from Kulesvari Matrrusadbhava. Para means the highest form, beyond the range of human understanding. When it loses its transcendence and manifests, it becomes Parapara, the mediocre level. When it further loses its strength, it becomes Apara.[6] These three aspects symbolize Shiva, Shakti and Atman in the philosophical perspective of Trika.

Para in Siddhanta

Main article: Saiva Siddhanta

According to Saiva Siddhanta, the lower part (pedestal) of Shiva lingam represents parashakti while upper part (oval stone) represents parashiva.[7]

Para in Shaktism

Main article: Adi Parashakti

See also

References

  1. ^ "Glossary". Search for "Parāśakti".
  2. ^ Jones, Constance; Ryan, James D. (2007). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Encyclopedia of World Religions. New York: Infobase Publishing. p. 400. ISBN 9780816054589.
  3. ^ Woodroffe, John George (1922). The Garland of Letters: (Varnamâlâ) Studies in the Mantra-shâstra. Ganesh Publications.
  4. ^ Dycskowski, 2014, Three Supreme Goddesses of Trika, Anuttara
  5. ^ Parashakti. Dancing with Siva.
  6. ^ Ravi.V (2012). Vijnanabhairava Tantra. Manblunder. pp. 7–8.
  7. ^ "Hinduism for children". search for "Śivaliṅga".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.