Sakti or Shakti is called ‘the Universal Force’ or ‘the Great Divine Mother’. Sakti means the divine energy, the embodiment of sustaining and creative energy and at times destructive energy. The other names for Sakti are Devi, Adi Parashakti, Kali, Sati, Parvati, Durga and Mahadevi. Her consort is Lord Shiva and Vishnu is her sibling.
Sakti means strength, energy, power, ability, capability, effort and strength. The deity represents dynamic forces in Hinduism that move through the whole universe. Sakti is the primordial cosmic energy.
The goddess is called ‘Adi Para Shakti’ or ‘Adi Shakti’ –as a Mother of Creatrix. Shakti is forever, has no ending or beginning and as an energy manifests in thermal energy, gravitational energy, all forms of matter, potential energy, etc. In Hinduism it is believed that Sakti takes up responsibility for creation and is an agent for all kinds of change.
Sakti is described as power. Sakti is called Indrani (power) or wife of Lord Indra. Indrani is a part of group of 7-8 mother goddesses named Narasimhi, Brahmani, Chamundi, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Maheshvari, Kaumari and Indrani, all of which are the power of the main gods in Hinduism including, Brahma, Narasimha, Vishnu, Yama, Shiva, Varaha, Skanda and Indra.
Goddess Sakti is worshipped in Shaktism, as a Supreme Being. In southern India, Sakti is known as Amma (mother) and many temples are dedicated to different incarnations of Sakti goddess. People in the villages believe her to be a goddess to cure diseases, punish evil people, take care of welfare and protect the village. Great interest is taken in celebrating the Sakti Jataras every year. Depending upon the form Sakti takes, a bird or animal acts as her vehicle.
