Shakti

Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "energy, ability, strength, effort, power, might, capability"^[1]) in Hinduism, is the fundamental esoteric energy that underlies and sustains all existence. In Hindu theological view, Shakti is the energizing power of Hindu Gods. Conceived of as feminine in essence, Shakti is generally personified as the wife of a particular Hindu God, especially of Shiva.

Shiva and Shakti are held as the masculine and feminine principles that are complementary to each other. Shakti, as prakriti (nature) is believed to have brought the primal male (purusha) into existence. The feminine Shakti comes into being as part of the "lila" (divine play) with the masculine (Shiva), who is considered a passive complementary to the all-powerful active feminine. The God Shiva being "nonactivated Eternity", while the Shakti "activated Time". "Shiva without Shakti is but a corpse, it is said." The God Shiva says: "O Goddess I am the body (deha) and you are the conscious spirit within the body (dehin)". In Jungian psychological view, the concept of Anima/animus that animates all humans, is considered the "spiritual equivalent" of Shakti.

The concept of the absolute Brahman in Hinduism is considered the same as Shakti, it is said "Brahman is static Shakti and Shakti is dynamic Brahman." In the smarta tradition of Hinduism, Shakti as Adi shakti, is one of five equal forms of God, which was advocated by Adi shankara to promote domestic worship and unity amongst the diverse Hindu philosophies. The term Shakta is used for the description of people and customs associated with the worship of Shakti.