What does shakti mean?

Answer 1

Sanskrit:

Shak - to be able.

Shakti, literally, means strength.

However, it is used to mean a mighty feminine force.

The seven basic forces:

To understand what Shakti is we must know the seven basic forces and the gods associated with them.

They are,

1. Dreaming force - Indra

2. Illusory force - Shakti

3. Voluntary force - Brahma

4. Semi voluntary force - Vishnu

5. Involuntary force - Shiva

6. Status altering force - Shani

7. Compulsive force - Yama

Components of Basic forces:

Strictly speaking, all the seven forces are made of two components, though in some forces each may contribute very little.

They are,

1. Voluntary/ Manual/ Feminine force

2. Involuntary/ Automatic/ Masculine force.

In Hindu mythology Voluntary force is associated with feminity and Involuntary force with masculinity. However, this rule doesn't apply to old gods because goddesses are a new addition.

Purpose of Voluntary and Involuntary forces:

We use voluntary force to deal with a change or crisis and Involuntary force for disciplined activities. However, since most activities fall between these two extremities, we need the seven basic forces.

The greatest source of Voluntary force:

Indra, Shakti and Brahma are the main sources of Voluntary force.

1. Indra force is the greatest source of voluntary force. However, we can use this force for dreaming only. He has no role to play in the real world.

Though Indra is voluntary he is considered as masculine because Indra existed even when there were no feminine gods at all.

2. Shakti is the next highest source of Voluntary force. Unlike Indra, it can be used for real world activities. However, it is basically an imaginary force, with a small component of reality.

3. Brahma is the real highest source of Voluntary force. Like Indra, Brahma is an old god and thus considered as masculine even though associated with Voluntary force.

The Shakti gods:

Indra is the last resort of helpless people and enables us to hibernate in an imaginary world, and bide our time. However, in the real world Shakti is our last resort. Shakti gods can help us even when the Trimurti can't help us because reasonably and logically there are no solutions to our problems. In such situations Shakti gods can bail us out using illusions. It is for this reason that they are considered to be more powerful than the Trimurti.

Shakti is also considered as the mother goddess because like mother they forgive us, for being unreasonable and illogical and ending up with unsolvable problems, and protect us under all conditions.

Being powerful and illusory they are worshiped in villages once an year and forgotten.

Disadvantages of Shakti goddesses:

1. The very worship of Shakti goddesses reveals to everyone that we are in a crisis.

2. Shakti enables us to create an illusion in others that we are great people. However, sooner or later we start believing that we are really great people.

3. Shakti goddesses can give us an illusion that our problems are solved, However, they can't actually solve our problems. Thus, they are more popular among the illiterate because they can't differentiate between real and imaginary progress.

4. Since they can help us under all conditions, we are encouraged to be unreasonable and illogical.

5. They can increase our courage but not interest. Therefore, they can't increase our social status.

Shakti goddesses and Parvati:

Since Shakti goddesses are popular and powerful god, but dangerous if misused, they are considered as an incarnations of Parvati. This makes Shakti goddesses logical and yet powerful.

Thus, Shakti is an illusory voluntary force, considered as a goddess, that is our last resort in solving real world problems and is meant to be used occasionally.