#REDIRECT [[Adi Parashakti]] {{Short description|Supreme Goddess in Hinduism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2018}}
{{about|Supreme Goddess in Hinduism|common term for a Hindu goddess|Devi|the personification of power|Shakti|the concept of Shaivism|Parashakti}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| texts = [[Devi Mahatmya]], [[Devi-Bhagavata Purana]], [[Kalika Purana]], [[Lalita sahasranama]], [[Lakshmi Tantra]], [[Shakta Upanishads]] such as the [[Devi Upanishad]]<ref>{{cite book |first1=Constance|last1=Jones|first2=James|last2=Ryan|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hZET2sSUVsgC |year=2014|publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-0816054589 |page=399}}</ref>
| image = MET DT4003.jpg
| caption = An 18th century painting of Mahadevi from [[Bikaner]], [[Rajasthan]].
| Devanagari = महादेवी
| Sanskrit_transliteration = Mahādevī
| affiliation = [[Para Brahman]] (Shaktism), [[Shakti]], [[Devi]]
<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sitaramiah|first1=Pavani|title=Sri Kalahasti Easwara Mahima|date=1993|publisher=Pavani Sitaramiah|page=90|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fn_XAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>
| mantra = {{IAST|Ōm āim hrīm śrīm klīm}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Swami Narayanananda|title=The Primal Power in Man: The Kundalini Shakti|date=1960|publisher=Health Research Books|isbn=9780787306311|page=50|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6_sKqkhwRzoC}}</ref>
| abode = [[Manidvipa]]
| weapon = [[Pasha (Hinduism)|Pasha]], [[Elephant goad|Ankusha]], [[Chakra]], [[Shankh]], [[Trishula]] and [[Rosary]]
| consort =
| deity_of = Supreme Goddess}}
{{Hinduism}}
'''Mahadevi''' ({{lang-sa|महादेवी}}, {{IAST3|Mahādevī}}), also referred to as '''Devi''', '''Shakti''', '''Adi Parashakti''' and '''Adi-Shakti''', is the primordial Goddess or Divine Mother in [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-12-13|title=Adi Para Shakti- Divine mother|url=https://www.hinduscriptures.com/gods/goddesses/adi-para-shakti-divine-mother/1392/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Hindu Scriptures: Vedic lifestyle, Scriptures, Vedas, Upanishads, Itihaas, Smrutis, Sanskrit.|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Shaktism|Shaktas]] believe her as the Supreme Being, manifested as the triple goddesses [[Saraswati]], [[Lakshmi]], and [[Parvati]].<ref name="P">{{Cite book|last=Pattanaik|first=Devdutt|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=rjL3ogbdJNkC&q=devi+created+brahma+vishnu&pg=PA123&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=Devi%20three%20parts&f=false|title=The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine|year=2000|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co|isbn=978-0-89281-807-5|language=en}}</ref> The [[Shaivism|Shaivas]] consider Parvati to be her primary form, while [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavas]] consider it to be Lakshmi.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bonnefoy|first=Yves|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?redir_esc=y&id=r4I-FsZCzJEC&q=Devi#v=snippet&q=Devi&f=false|title=Asian Mythologies|date=1993-05-15|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-06456-7|pages=95|language=en}}</ref>
__STATICREDIRECT__ ==Hinduism==
===Shaivism===
Shiva Purana says Adi Parashakti incarnated in materialistic form as ''Parama Prakriti'' from the left half of Lord Shiva i.e.Parabrahman Paramshiva during the beginning of the Universe. [[Linga Purana]] states that Adi Shakti brings forth the evolution of life in every Universe through the union of every Parvati and Shiva in all of the Universes. [[Skanda Purana]] and [[Markandeya Purana]] talks about [[Parvati]] as divine mother of all creation and truest material form of Adi Shakti.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shastri |first1=J. L. |editor1-last=English translation by J. L. Shastri |title=The Shiva Purāṇa |date=1970 |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english |format=includes glossary |via= Wisdom Library}}</ref><ref>Shiva Mahapurana | Gitapress Gorakhpur</ref>
===Shaktism===
====Importance ====
In the Devi Gita, it is suggested that before incarnating as Parvati, she appeared to King Himalaya and revealed divine, eternal knowledge to him. She explained herself, in the words of the [[Vedas]], as having neither beginning nor end. She is the only, eternal truth. The whole universe is her creation. She is the only victor and the manifestation of victory itself. She is a manifested, un-manifested and transcendent divinity. She then displayed her scarcely seen form to him: [[Satyaloka]] was located in her forehead; the created universe were her hairs; the [[sun]] and [[moon]] were her eyes; in her ears were the [[Cardinal directions|four directions]]; the Vedas were her words; death, affection and emotion were her teeth; [[Maya (illusion)|maya]] was manifested by her smile.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dg/ |title=The Devi Gita index |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-05}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=June 2018}} The goddess Parvati as Kushmanda gives birth to the universe in the form of an cosmic egg which manifests as the universe. Ultimately, Adi Shakti herself is the zero energy which exists even after destruction of the universe and before its creation.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}
====Shakta Puranas====
The [[Devi Bhagavata Purana]] says that [[Shiva]] worshipped and meditated on Adi Parashakti for thousands of years, using the ''beeja mantra'' "Hreem". She then manifested one of her Shaktis in front of him in the form of Sidhidaatri from the left half of Lord [[Shiva]] . The Goddess Adi Parashakti is also considered to be both [[Nirguna|the truly supreme spirit without form]] (Param Atman) and Saguna with form. In her Saguna form she is described as the Mother of the Universe and is residing in Sarvaloka [[Manidweepa]] above all of the other Paralokas. She is the [[Mahadevi|Great Goddess]], and all other [[Devi|goddesses]] and even all the [[Gods]] are her various forms, says the Devi Gita from Shakti Mahabhagawata Purana.<ref>Sri Bhagwati Gita | Devi Gita | Sri Parvati Gita – Scribd | https://www.scribd.com/doc/147548723/Sri-Bhagwati-Gita-Devi-Gita-Sri-Parvati-Gita</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2018}}
In Devi Mahatmyam, Trimurti and [[demigods]] praises Adi Shakti:<ref>{{cite web |title=Matri - Dhyan - Anandamayi Ma |url=https://www.anandamayi.org/chant/chant.htm |website=www.anandamayi.org |publisher=Shree Shree Ma Anandamayee Devotees |location=London 1998}}</ref>
<blockquote><poem>
''Shrishti Sthiti Vinasham Shakti Bhute Sanatane''
''Guna Shaye (Devoid of all attributes i.e. Nirgun) Gana maye (Having all the attributes) Narayani Namaustute''
</poem></blockquote>
This translates to:
<blockquote><poem> We bow to the first female (Narayani), The eternal energy who creates, sustains and destroys all the elements i.e. tatva and the one who is truly the supreme spirit (Nirgun) at the time who encapsulates all the attributes for Generation, Observation and Destruction.</poem></blockquote>
====Role in creation====
In Srimad Devi Bhagwat Purana's 1st book and 4th chapter. Devi addressed [[Trimurti]] as follows:
"I am Adi Parashakti. I am the owner of this universe. I am the Absolute Reality. I am dynamic in feminine form and static in masculine form. You have appeared to govern the universe through my energy. You are the masculine form of Absolute Reality, while I am the feminine form of that Reality. I am beyond form, beyond everything, and all the powers of God are contained within me. You must know that I am the Eternal limitless energy."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vijñanananda |trans-title=The Devi Bhagavata Purana |translator=Swami Vijñanananda |translator-link=Vijnanananda|title=The Śrîmad Devî Bhâgawatam: Book 1 |date=1996 |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788121505918 |orig-date=Translation first published 1921 |id=Translated from the Sanskrit |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/devi-bhagavata-purana/d/doc57103.html |chapter= On the excellency of the Devī (Chapter 4)}}</ref>
She then said: ''[[Brahma]]! You will be the generator of the universe; the Goddess Sharada ([[Saraswati]]) is your consort, she will be recognized as the goddess of wisdom and the primeval sound. Lord Brahma, this goddess will be with you when you create the universe.''
She continued: ''Lord Narayana ([[Vishnu]])! You are formless, yet you take form. I assign you to be the preserver of the universe. You will take a different incarnation in order to save this universe's inhabitants. Oh, Narayana! You have created Lord Brahma, and Brahma will further create thirty-three kinds of gods and goddesses. I am goddess [[Mahamaya]], I reappear from your mystic sleep. Your consort will be goddess [[Lakshmi]]. Lord Vishnu, this goddess will be with you when you rule/maintain the universe. When life evolves, you will take the form of Vishnu, the one who will perform the task of observing and preserving this universe.''
At Last, she instructed: ''Oh Lord Rudra Shiva, the Great God, you are the personification of time, which is above all. You will perform the task of destroying and regenerating this universe. When you are formless, time stands still. It is due to my power that you become dynamic and are capable of bringing about the destruction and regeneration of this universe. [[Mahakali]] is myself, my full form, and due to meditation, you will surpass all my forms. It is then that I will incarnate from your left half in my manifested form. This form will be my truest manifested form. Lord Shiva, she will perform the task of destroying evil and will be your consort.'' <ref>
{{cite web
| title = Hindu Purana - Creation of Universe - Daily News Watch – An Effort to Unite India
| date = February 26, 2014
| publisher= DailyNewsWatch
| url = http://dailynewswatch.in/hindu-purana-creation-of-universe/
| access-date = May 24, 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140505232541/http://dailynewswatch.in/hindu-purana-creation-of-universe/
| archive-date = 5 May 2014
| url-status = dead
| df = dmy-all
}}
</ref>
====Adi Parashakti's Forms====
{{multiple image
|width1=100
|width2=100
|width3=100
|image1 = Parvati Ganesha.jpg
|caption1 = As [[Parvati]], she is kind and tender and represents motherhood.
|image2 = Tripura sundari 4.jpg
|caption2 = As [[Tripura Sundari]], she is the complete suorene form.<!--celebrated in the [[Shakta]] texts [[Lalita Sahasranama]] and [[Soundarya Lahari]], seated on the lap of [[Sadashiva]] who is on a throne.--><ref>{{cite book|last1=Vasantānanta (Swami.)|first1=Nā Irāmaccantiraṉ|title=Sri Lalita Sahasranamam: Nama-wise Commentary in English with Text in Sanskrit|date=1993|page=358|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OItAAAAYAAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | date=1987 | last1=Śaṅkarācārya | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V4rXAAAAMAAJ | title=Saundarya-lahari of Sri Sankaracarya: with text and translation, and notes based on Lakṣmīdhara's commentary | publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math | last2=Tapasyananda (Swami.) | last3=Lakṣmīdhara | page=70}}</ref>
|image3 =Kali_from_1885-95.jpg
|caption3 = As [[Kali]], she is ferocious and destroys evil.}}
Devi [[Parvati]] is the full and complete physical incarnation of the goddess.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kinsley|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgTOZEyrVtIC|title=Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition|date=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0394-7|language=en}}</ref> Parvati was [[Sati (Hindu goddess)|Sati]] in her previous birth. Sati was also a direct incarnation of Adi Parashakti. However, Sati died and was reborn as Parvati. Parvati is shown as kind and loving mother goddess. She can take various forms including [[Kali]], [[Durga]], [[Chandi]], etc.
According to [[Shakta]] traditions, Lalita tripurasundari is the ultimate [[god]]. Lalita Tripurasundari holds a sugarcane bow, flower arrows, noose, and goad. She came down from [[Manidweepa]] above this Brahmanda to destroy Bhandasura. Her abode is pictorially represented as Sri Chakra. [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]], [[Shiva]] of this Brahmanda are her subordinates and cannot function without her power. Thus, she is considered the supreme Goddess and primary deity in [[Shaktism]] as she is the nearest representative of Adi Parashakti. Whatever deity one is worshiping, ultimately, they are worshiping Adi Parashakti.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
She took various incarnations over a period of time for upholding Dharma. As per the yogis of the highest order, she is the power who resides in the Kundalini in the form of Amba, she is 31/2 coil in size and when the Kundalini is raised from the sacrum bone of every human being by a highly realized soul whose kundalini is also awakened then she rises through the back bone of the human opening all chakras mooladhara, Swadisthana, manipura, anahata, vishuddi, Agnya and finally through sahasrara chakras and connects the soul to the all pervading power (or collective consciousness) of the divine.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
On the three nadis, Ida (Left channel- Tamo guna), Pingala (Right channel-Rajo Guna) and Sushumna (central channel-Sattva guna), the kundalini passes through the central channel balancing all the left and right channel.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
[[Kali]] is the third part of Goddess Adi Para Shakti. She is the goddess of power, spiritual fulfillment, time, as well as presiding over the [[pralaya|destruction of the universe]]. She gives [[Moksha|salvation]] to mankind. [[Shaktas]] consider her as the incarnation of [[Parvati]] and consort of Shiva's incarnation [[Mahakala]]. She helped Lord Maha Vishnu slay the demons [[Madhu]] and [[Kaitabha]]. It is she who also slew [[Shumbha]] and [[Nishumbha]] in the form of [[Kaushiki]], who are symbols of ignorance. She is also same as Yogmaya also known as [[Tamsi]] Devi and [[Chandi]] Devi as per Durga Saptashati. She wears red or black and presides over the [[tamas (philosophy)|Tamas]] [[Guna]]. When Kali is formless, she becomes the sound of Kreem. In her gentler form as Durga, she becomes the sound of Kleem.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
====Worship====
[[File:Sri Yantra 256bw.gif|thumb|The [[Sri Yantra]] in [[diagrammatic form]], showing how its nine interlocking triangles form a total of 43 smaller triangles.]]
Shaktas claim that it is assumed that indirectly or directly, everybody worships her. When, someone is utilizing his/her energy in positive aspects of life then they are worshiping her. Hypothetically [[Shaktas]] assume, since, she is absolute Energy, so when one knows how to raise his/her inner energy and knows how to balance that energy for daily work then ultimately, they are worshiping her. To balance Energy for day-to-day life, people worship their personal gods/God as per their religion, enlighten candles and lamps at home, do good work for society and much more. All these activities either energize them or serve as methods to gain motivation.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Many scholars like [[Swami Vivekananda]] prefers [[meditation]] as best practice to stop mental impurities as he said ''Holy meditation helps to burn out all mental impurities'' and claims that to know one's own energy is best method to worship Divine Mother.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Though core shakta people believe in direct worship of Adi Shakti through [[dhyan]], [[Meditation]] and [[Samadhi#Hinduism|Samadhi]], [[Tantra]], [[Sri chakra]] and traditional deity worship. While worshiping her through [[yoga]], Samadhi or through Tantra, one needs proper adherent guru, who himself or herself must know all the rules and rituals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eng.vedanta.ru/library/prabuddha_bharata/shakti_worship_and_sri_ramakrishna_nov2004.php|title=Shakti Worship and Sri Ramakrishna|website=www.eng.vedanta.ru|publisher=Swami Prabhananda|access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2018}} If someone who doesn't have proper guru, then one can also worship her by singing her praise.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
====Iconography====
Adi Parashakti is generally seen as an abstract goddess but her appearances is described in the [[Devi Bhagavata Purana]], [[Kalika Purana]], [[Markandeya Purana]]-[[Devi Mahatmya]], [[Brahmanda Purana]]-[[Lalita Sahasranama]], and the [[Tripura Rahasya]]. According to the [[Devi Bhagavata Purana]], the goddess once invited the [[Trimurti]] to [[Manidvipa]]. The Trimurti saw the supreme goddess sitting on a jeweled seat in a throne. Her face contained the radiance of millions of stars and her celestial beauty was so great that the Trimurti were not able to look at her. She carries the surya mudra, pasha, ankusha and lotus. They then realized that she was the energy responsible for creating, preserving, and destroying the whole universe.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kinsley|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgTOZEyrVtIC|title=Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition|date=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0394-7|language=en}}</ref>
==Association with other deities==
=== Navagrahas or the Nine Planets ===
Adi Shakti is regarded as the one who can control all the nine planets. She divides herself to Material [[Shakti]] i.e. [[Durga]] who splits herself to operate nine planets to maintain cosmic order, Vidya Shakti i.e. [[Kali]] as source for [[Dashavatara|10 incarnations]] of Lord [[Vishnu]] and Maya Shakti, to delude the beings to illusion and also promotes the beings to Ultimate [[God in Hinduism|God]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
As [[Durga]] She is the one who splits herself to [[Navadurga|Navadurgas]] provides direction and energy to all planets.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
* [[Surya]] ([[Sun]]) is Governed by [[Kushmanda]].
* [[Mahagauri]] operates [[Rahu]] (Ascending lunar node).
* [[Kaalratri]] governs [[Shani]] ([[Saturn]]).
* [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]] (Descending lunar node) is governed by Goddess [[Siddhidatri]].
* Provider of Knowledge i.e. [[Brihaspati]] ([[Jupiter]]) is governed by Goddess [[Katyayini]]
* Provider of All Fortunes i.e. [[Mangala]] ([[Mars]]) is governed by Goddess [[Brahmacharini]]
* The effect of [[Chandra]] ([[Moon]]) is overcome by Goddess [[Shailaputri]]
* [[Budha]] ([[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]]) Planet is governed by Goddess [[Skandamata]]
* [[Shukra]] ([[Venus]]) Planet is operated by Goddess [[Chandraghanta]]
By this contrast Goddess Adi Shakti controls the [[Navagraha|Navagrahas]]. Worshipping the nine goddess in [[Navaratri]] or Nine nights of Durga, saves you from the dangerous effects of the planets.
===Association with Beings (demi-gods, living beings and demons)===
;Yoga Maya
Adi Parashakti is the one who actually creates maya for gods and teaches them what to do and what not to do so that they can be connected to the ultimate [[God]]. She helped Lord [[Vishnu]] to slay the demons [[Madhu and Kaitabha]] to save the world. Moreover, she is also the one that who takes Lord Vishnu to mystic sleep hence called Yog Nidra of Lord Narayana. It is required by yogis, sages and bhaktas so that they can be connected to God. [[Shaiva]]s consider her as the form of goddess [[Parvati]], while [[Vaishnavas]] consider her as goddess [[Lakshmi]].
;Mahamaya
She is the goddess that destroys the upfold of illusion. She is the one that creates and destroys maya. She is controlled by Yogmaya and hence subordinate to YogMaya and senior to Maya.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}} She emerges as seven mothers to destroy evil forces of [[Shumbha]] and [[Nishumbha]], Being [[Chamunda]] one of them. She is required to gain physical strength, health, satvik attributes and demotes anger, greed and arrogance. [[Vaishnavas]] consider her as [[Lakshmi]] while the [[Shaiva]]s consider her as form of [[Parvati]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment and Illumination |publisher=Stephen Knapp |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a2KPChj7lTwC&q=yogmaya+vs+mahamaya&pg=PA127 |access-date=10 December 2014 |isbn=9780595350759 |year=2005}}</ref>
;Maya
She is the one who deludes living beings from god and takes any being to the world of illusion. She promotes greed, anger, and arrogance. It is assumed that in the Age of [[Kali Yug]]a, her effect is highest.<ref name="BP">{{cite book |title=Bhagavata Purana, Part 1 |date=1950 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |location=Dehli |edition=Motilal English Full |url=https://archive.org/details/bhagavatapuranamotilalenglishfull |language=en |id=1999 reprint}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Shakti]]
* [[Parashakti]]
* [[Shaktism]]
* [[Devi]]
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
==References==
* Brown, Cheever Mackenzie (1998). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=OxayHczql9EC The Devī Gītā: the song of the Goddess; a translation, annotation, and commentary]''.
* Kinsley, David. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hgTOZEyrVtIC Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions]''. {{ISBN|81-208-0379-5}}.
{{Shaktism}}
{{Hindu Culture and Epics}}
{{Hindudharma}}
[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Forms of Parvati]]
[[Category:Singular God]]
[[Category:Consorts of Shiva]]
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