18 Facts About Shaktism

Shaktism has different sub-traditions, ranging from those focused on most worshipped Durga, gracious Parvati to that of fierce Kali.

Shaktism is known for its various sub-traditions of tantra, as well as a galaxy of goddesses with respective systems.

The pantheon of goddesses in Shaktism grew after the decline of Buddhism in India, wherein Hindu and Buddhist goddesses were combined to form the Mahavidya, a list of ten goddesses.

The most common aspects of Devi found in Shaktism include Durga, Kali, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati and Tripurasundari.

Shaktism emphasizes that intense love of deity is more important than simple obedience, thus showing the influence of Vaishnava idea where passionate relationship between Radha and Krishna is the ideal relationship.

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Shaktism's is considered to be simultaneously the source of all creation, its embodiment and the energy that animates and governs it, and that into which everything will ultimately dissolve.

Shaktism's focus on the Divine Female does not imply a rejection of the male.

Shaktism's is presented in the opening chapter of the Devi Gita as the benign and beautiful world-mother, called Bhuvaneshvari .

Shaktism encompasses a nearly endless variety of beliefs and practices – from animism to philosophical speculation of the highest order – that seek to access the Shakti that is believed to be the Devi's nature and form.

Srikula became a force in South India no later than the seventh century, and is today the prevalent form of Shaktism practiced in South Indian regions such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Tamil areas of Sri Lanka.

Kalikula form of Shaktism is most dominant in northeastern India, and is most widely prevalent in West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Odisha, as well as Nepal and Kerala.

Shaktism's is outwardly frightening – with dark skin, pointed teeth, and a necklace of skulls – but inwardly beautiful.

In many cases, Shaktism devotees consider animal sacrifice distasteful, and practice alternate means of expressing devotion while respecting the views of others in their tradition.

Shaktism has at times been dismissed as a superstitious, black magic-infested practice that hardly qualifies as a true religion at all.

Tantras are the Bible of Shaktism, identifying all Force with the female principle in nature and teaching an undue adoration of the wives of Shiva and Vishnu to the neglect of their male counterparts.

In contrast, Galvin Flood states that Shaivism and Shaktism traditions are difficult to separate, as many Shaiva Hindus revere the goddess Shakti regularly.

Major pilgrimage sites of Shaktism are called "Shakti Peethas", literally "Seats of the Devi".

In Jainism, ideas similar to Shaktism tradition are found, such as the Vidyadevis and the Shasanadevis.