Shakti And Women

Shakti is life- birth, death, rebirth, creation, and destruction. She is the divine feminine energy force travelling through the cosmos and beyond. She is the ultimate goddess of every creative energy. She is the goddess of love, war, and destroyer of the evils who brings balance to every aspect of life.

I was fortunate to get introduced to the feminine divinity of "Shakti" in an unplanned and unintentional way during my childhood. Almost every village has a Grama Devi (or Grama Devta, in some cases) as the village deity. The as a deity of my village, Maa Kalika, was considered very kind and extremely powerful. The villagers had and still have immense faith in her to fulfill any desire or to protect from a disaster.

Being unaware of the dynamic feminine aspect of the divinity, as a young girl, I was wondering how a small rock, the dwelling at a small chabutara or, at times, under a tree can do miracles for the people! Every village deity had her staunch devotees among the people of that village who vouched for their trusted deity. When a daughter of one village moves to another after her marriage, sometimes this fact caused some sort of rift in the family. The newly-wed woman would like to go to the deity of her paternal village whom she had trusted in her growing years, but the in-laws would think it unnecessary as their village deity is more powerful for them. 

I too had many similar questions in the tender and inquisitive mind. My father explained to me: "Hindus worship many gods and goddesses and there are 33 crore of them all together (Later, I learnt that 33 koti actually means 33 types and not 33 crore.) The village deities are nothing but the incarnations of the Shakti with different names". Then only I understood that when all Shiva temples with different names like Mahakaleshwar, Lingaraj and Kedarnath are acknowledged as one, the Shakti deities are yet to be recognised as “One” by the followers. 

Shaktism, in its philosophy and practice, is much like Shaivism culture. Shakti is considered to be the Supreme Being (Brahman) itself and all other forms of divinity (including Shiva) to be just her diverse forms and secondary.

The divine feminine power is given a lot of importance in every Hindu household on every auspicious occasion- be it the marriage or mundan or thanksgiving worship or offerings to protect from the evil effects of a disease. Not to be forgotten are the newly purchased vehicles that are blessed first at the Shakti peeths. 

BLIND BELIEFS and TRANCE DANCE: During Shakti puja, often one witness trance dances. Trance dance is supposedly a manifestation of mother goddess possessing the trance dancers who are usually intoxicated on alcohol or ganja. Trance dance is a dangerous form of dance and spectators often find it scary- particularly the young and impressionable ones. There are many blind beliefs and wrong practices like animal sacrifice around Shakti puja. Such unscientific and unethical practices should be stopped.

TANTRIC PRACTICES: Tantric practices have long been the part of the society. But, often the objectives of the practitioners are just sexual and not spiritual awakening. Tantra, as a form of spiritual practice, has a great potential. Tantric philospohy states that greater levels of spiritual awakening can be achieved through the merger of Shakti and Shiva, the feminine and masculine energies, respectively. 

SOCIAL CHANGE: With a higher level of literacy and awareness, due to the digital and social media, people are aware of the world outside them and tend to blindly follow practices of the celebrities. The celebrations have taken the center stage often without understanding the real meaning of Shakti puja.

Shakti Puja during Navaratri:

As I grew up, I came across the spiritual side of celebrating Navaratri. It no more meant only pandal hopping and enjoying the gastronomical pleasures and material possessions. My childhood's festival for pleasure has now turned into the most spiritual experience and I wait eagerly for this festival.

For the south Indian communities, it is Golu for ten days and Aayudha puja at the end. The eastern community flaunts their pandals, food and costumes, culture from Shashthi to Dashami. No doubt, Mysore dussera is the most spectacular one with larger than life celebrations in the royal palace. Gujarati and Rajasthani communities celebrate Dandiya nights in a big way. North Indians celebrate it by worshiping Ashtabhujaa Mata for nine days. Each community witnesses others way of celebration very closely and be a part of it being true to unity in diversity like India.

Most importantly, nine forms Shakti are worshipped during Navratri. Together, they denote nine planets and an auspicious period to awaken nine chakras and get the divine blessings. It can be attained by chanting beej mantra. 

The base line is we learn to respect, appreciate different ways of celebrating Navratri. Recognition of the same is a big spiritual awakening. 

Navratri is celebrated nine different forms of goddesses or nine different forms of Shakti, the divine feminine energy. 

Pride: Women are an embodiment of Shakti, face the power within and let it influence your demeanour. be proud to be a woman and take care of your well-being. Self-love and self respect is part of that. Remain fit and groomed and well informed is part of it. 

Purity: Thought, emotions, and intent makes a woman purpose of her being and infuses her with great responsibility. 

Strength: Strength of protector and creator and nurture. Confidence is her power and secret weapon. 

Emancipation: Women should adopt free-spiritedness and should not get cowed down by the people and society. They should cultivate their capabilities in all directions. Education values and discrimination and fend for herself must spur for every woman to encourage her to lead a life not depending on anybody. The #MeToo movement is a live example of this. 

Ambition: Every woman must have an ambition for herself and for her loved ones. But not being the victim of casting couch at any cost. She has the power to push her self to any limit It should be calming and uplifting acceptance and inspiring. 

Love and acceptance: Science has proved that women are better emotion reader and express it better than the men. They are more empathetic. A woman is mix of love, understanding and forgiveness. 

Knowledge and Wisdom: Shakti is the source of knowledge. Being able to understand life at intuitive level, no doubt a woman becomes more knowledgeable and wiser. 

A woman can be Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri- nine forms of Shakti at the same time.