Shakti
In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability") is the primordial cosmic energy, female in aspect and is a goddess that comes in many forms. Shakti represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the universe.Shakti often refers to the wife of Shiva. A few common names for Shakti are Mulaprakruti, meaning the root substance, and Maha maya.

Origins
Shakti, the goddess, was found in a Paleolithic context in the Son River valley. It is a triangular stone known as the Baghor stone and is estimated to be created around to 9,000–8,000 BCE. The representation of Shakti in a stone is considered an early example of a yantra. Kenoyer, part of the team that excavated the stone, considered that it was highly probable that the stone was associated with Shakti. The veneration of Shiva and Shakti was also prevalent in Indus valley civilization.

Shaktism
Shaktism regards Devi (lit., "the Goddess") as the Supreme Brahman itself with all other forms of divinity considered to be merely Her diverse manifestations. In the details of its philosophy and practice, Shaktism resembles Shaivism. However, Shaktas (Sanskrit: शक्त, Śakta, ), practitioners of Shaktism, focus most or all worship on Shakti, as the dynamic feminine aspect of the Supreme Divine. Shiva, the masculine aspect of divinity, is considered solely transcendent, and Shiva's worship is usually secondary.From Devi-Mahatmya:

From Shaktisangama Tantra:

Adi Parashakti
Mahadevi (Sanskrit: महादेवी, IAST: Mahādevī), also referred to as Adi Parashakti, Adi Shakti, and Abhaya Shakti, is the supreme goddess in the Shaktism sect of Hinduism. According to this tradition, all Hindu goddesses are considered to be manifestations of this single great Goddess, who is comparable to the deities Vishnu and Shiva as Para Brahman. Vaishnavas consider her to be Lakshmi, Shaivas consider her to be Parvati, Durga, Lalita and Kali, while Shaktas consider her to be Durga, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshvari, and Kali. Author Helen T. Boursier says: "In Hindu philosophy, both Lakshmi and Parvati are identified with the great goddess—Mahadevi—and the Shakti or divine power".

Mariamman
The Shakti goddess has been syncretised with the Amman of South Indian tradition, especially in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. There are many temples devoted to various incarnations of the Shakti goddess in most of the villages in South India. The people of the countryside believe that Amman is the bringer of rain, the protector of the village, the punisher of evil people, the cure of diseases, and the one who gives welfare to the village. They celebrate Shakti festivities with great pomp annually. Some examples of the deities assimilated into Shakti are Mahalakshmi, Kamakshi, Parvati, Lalita, Bhuvaneshwari, Durga, Meenakshi, Mariamman, Yellamma, Poleramma, Saraswati and Perantalamma.

Smarta Advaita
In the Smarta Advaita sect of Hinduism, Shakti is considered to be one of five equal personal forms of God in the panchadeva system advocated by Adi Shankara. The Smarta tradition (Sanskrit: स्मार्त), also called Smartism, is a movement in Hinduism that developed and expanded with the Puranas genre of literature. It reflects a synthesis of four philosophical strands, namely Mimamsa, Advaita, Yoga, and theism. The Smarta tradition rejects theistic sectarianism, and is notable for the domestic worship of five shrines with five deities, all treated as equal – Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu and Surya. The Smarta tradition contrasted with the older Shrauta tradition, which was based on elaborate rituals and rites. There has been a considerable overlap in the ideas and practices of the Smarta tradition with other significant historic movements within Hinduism, namely Shaivism, Brahmanism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism.

See also
Ammavaru – Hindu goddess
Iccha-shakti – Philosophical term
Kundalini – Form of divine energy believed to be located at the base of the spine
Mohini – Hindu goddess of enchantment, the only female avatar of Vishnu
Prakṛti – Nature in Hinduism
Purusha – Concept in Hindu philosophy
Shakti Pitha – Shrines in Shaktism, goddess-focused Hinduism
Tridevi – Trinity of chief goddesses in Hinduism

Notes
References
Further reading
Datta, Reema; Lowitz, Lisa (2005). Sacred Sanskrit Words. Berkeley, CA: Stonebridge Press.
Feuerstein, Georg (2000). The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications.
Harish, Ranjana; Harishankar, V. Bharathi (2003). Shakti: Multidisciplinary perspectives on women's empowerment in India. New Delhi, IN: Rawat. ISBN 81-7033-793-3.
McDaniel, June (2004). Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular goddess worship in West Bengal. Oxford University Press.
Shaw, Miranda (1994). Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Tiwari, Bri. Maya (2002). The Path of Practice: A woman's book of Ayurvedic healing. Motilal Banarsidass Press.
Woodroffe, John (1910). Shakti and Shakta. Forgotten Books. ISBN 1-60620-145-X – via Google Books.
Woodroffe, John (1952) [1913]. Hymns to the Goddess. Translated by Woodroffe, Ellen. Forgotten Books. ISBN 1-60620-146-8 – via Google Books.
Woodroffe, John (1922). Hymn to Kali: Karpuradi Stotra. Forgotten Books. ISBN 1-60620-147-6 – via Google Books.

External links

"Shakti". VedaBase. Listing of usage in Puranic literature. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009.