Śakti

Śakti

Śakti is a name used for more than one being and thing in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.

Devatās

• Durgā: the supreme Devī, the great Śakti behind the whole creation; the Bhavishya Purāṇa teaches that Gaurī, Lakshmī and Sāvitrī are forms of one Śakti. Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 205
• Pārvatī: the eternal Paraśakti of Bhagavān Śiva, who receives pūjā in Āshāḍha under the name Śakti in the Aviyoga Tṛtīyā Vrata. Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 22

People

• Śakti: the eldest son of Vasishṭha and father of Parāśara, devoured by the possessed King Kalmāshapāda. Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva; Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 6

Things and ideas

• Śakti-Astra: the divine spear-weapon that Brahmā gave to Rāvaṇa as a vara, which Rāvaṇa used against Lakshmaṇa. Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapters 100–102; Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 46, 49, 74, 96, 135, 185, 291

Named in passing

• The śakti of Kārttikeya: the weapon he bears, from which he is called Śaktihasta and Śaktidhara, told on Kārttikeya. Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 132; Uttara Parva, Chapter 42
• The śakti, a weapon of Agni‘s address and of the Yamadūtas: a weapon named in Agni’s address and in the hands of the Yamadūtas. Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 136; Uttara Parva, Chapters 5–6