Adi Parashakti

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Adi Parashakti (Sanskrit: आ द पराश ,

IAST: Ādi Parāśakti) is considered the
Supreme Being in the Shaktism sect of
Hinduism. She is also popularly referred to
as "Parama Shakti", "Adi Shakti",
"Mahashakti", "Mahadevi", "Mahagauri",
"Mahakali", Mahalakshmi Satyam Shakti or
even simply as "Shakti". "Parama" means
absolute, "Satya" means the Truth as per
many Shakta texts.[5] The Devi-Bhagavata
Purana states that Adi Parashakti is the
original creator, observer and destroyer of
the universe.
Goddess Parvati is the Adi Parashakti.
 Adi Parashakti
The Divine Power

Adi Parashakti (in the form of goddess

Tripura Sundari) as celebrated in the Shakta
texts Lalita Sahasranama and Soundarya
Lahari, seated on the lap of Sadashiva who is
on a throne.[1][2]

Sanskrit ādi Parāshakti

transliteration
Affiliation Para Brahman
(Shaktism), Sati,
Kali,Parvati

Abode Mount Kailas[3]

Mantra Om ayeem hreem

shreem kleem[4]

Weapon Pasha, Angusha,

Chakra, Shankh,
Trishula and others

Consort Shiva

Etymology
Adi Parashakti means "First Supreme-
energy". आ द ādi literally means
"beginning". Shakti refers to a power
beyond the physical universe; the term
itself comes from the root शक् śak,
meaning "to be able," from PIE *ḱak-.

Importance
In the Devi Gita, it is suggested that before
incarnating as Parvathi, 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 four
directions; the Vedas were her words;
death, affection and emotion were her
teeth; maya was manifested by her
smile.[6]

Adi Parashakti in Hinduism

Goddess Adi ParaShakthi is the Presiding Deity at the
Parashakthi Temple in Pontiac Michigan, USA

Except for Shakta Puranas, Adi Shakti has

never been mentioned with the name "Adi
Shakti". But indirectly, they also consider
her to be supreme being. Scriptures like
Devi Bhagwata Purana, four Vedas
consider Kali as Dark energy which
dissolute complete universe along with
time.The goddess Parvati as Kushmanda
gives birth to the universe in the form of
cosmic egg which manifested as the
universe. Ultimately, Adi shakti herself is
the Zero Energy which exist even after
destruction of universe and before its
creation.

In Shiva Puranas …

Shiva Purana says Adi Parashakti

incarnated in materialistic form as Parama
Prakriti/Devi Adi Parashakti 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.[7]

In Shakta Puranas …

The "Devi Bhaagwata 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
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 Great Goddess,
and all other goddesses and even all the
Gods are her various forms, says the Devi
Gita from Shakti Mahabhagawata
Purana.[8] In Devi Mahatmyam, Trimurti
and demigods praises Adi Shakti:

Shrishti Sthiti Vinasham Shakti Bhute

Sanatane

Guna Shaye (Devoid of all attributes i.e.

Nirgun) Gana maye (Having all the
attributes) Narayani Namaustute[9]

Meaning: 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
supreme spirit (Nirgun) at the time who
encapsulate all the attributes for
Generation, Observation and Destruction.

Adi Parashakti in Sikhism

Sikhism also portrays the concept of Adi
Shakti. The difference is in the philosophy.
In Sikhism, Khanda, the symbol of the
infinite power of God, is referred as "Adi
Shakti" in Hinduism.[10] Durga or Parvati,
one of the Sakthis of Adi Shakti as per
Hinduism, are manifestations of Adi Shakti
to destroy demons as described in Chandi
di Var.

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.

She then said: Brahma! You will be

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 (Krishna)!

You are formless, yet you take form. I
assign you to be the preserver of the
universe. You will take a different
incarnations in order to save this universe's
inhabitants. Oh Narayana! You have created
Lord Brahma, and Brahma will further create
thirty three kind of gods and goddesses. I
am goddess Mahamaya, has been 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
Shiv, 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. Your consort is goddess
Mahakali Mahamaya, Mahakali is me, my
full form, where lakshmi and Saraswati
just my clone, partial form but due to
meditation, you will surpass all my
forms.Lord Shiva, I will perform the task of
destroying evil and I will born as your
consort ".so goddess parvati is mahamaya
[11]

Association with other deities

Association with Navagraha or 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 10 incarnations of Lord
Vishnu and Maya Shakti, to delude the
beings to illusion and also promotes the
beings to Ultimate God. As Durga Shakti
She is the one who splits herself to
NavaDurga provides direction and energy
to all planets.

Sun is Governed by Kushmanda

Shakti.
Mahagauri operates Rahu.
Kaalratri governs Shani.
Ketu is governed by Goddess
Siddhidaatri.
Provider of Knowledge i.e.
Bhrasapati is governed by Goddess
Katyayini
 Provider of All Fortunes i.e. Mangal
is governed by Goddess
Brahmacharini
The effect of moon is overcome by
Goddess Shailaputri
Budh Planet is governed by
Goddess Skandamata
Shukra Planet is operated by
Goddess Chandraghanta

By this contrast Goddess Adi Shakti

controls Nava Graha. Worshipping the nine
goddess in Navaratri or Nine nights of
mataji, saves you from dangerous effects
of planets.
Association with ten avatars of Lord …

Vishnu

As told above, Adi Shakti has divided

herself to Material Shakti (Durga or
Parvati), Kali (Vidya Shakti) and Yog Maya
(as Mayashakti). As Vidya Shakti she
splits herself to 10 kinds of eternal
knowledge also known as 10 Mahavidya.
The ten goddesses are known as wisdom
goddesses. As per tantras these ten
goddesses are original source of ten
incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

From Dhumavati, Lord Matsya was

incarnated
From Bagalamukhi, Lord Kurma
was incarnated
From Bhairavi, Lord Varaha was
incarnated
From Chinnamasta, Lord
Narasimha was incarnated
From Tripurasundari, Lord Vaamana
was incarnated
From Matangi, Lord Parashurama
was incarnated
From Tara, Lord Rama was
incarnated
From Kali, Lord Krishna was
incarnated
 From Kamala, Lord Buddha was
incarnated
From Bhuvaneshvari, Lord Kalki will
be incarnated

The information is sourced from Sri Devi

Bhagwata Mahapurana.[12]

Association with Beings (demi-

gods, living beings and demons)
…

Goddess Mahakali lastly splits up as

Maya, Mahamaya and Yogmaya. It is she
who actually creates three kinds of Maya
such that One subordinate another. In this
respect, we have Yogmaya, Mahamaya
and Maya.

Yoga Maya …

She is the one who actually creates maya

on gods and teaches them what to do and
what not to do so that they can be
connected to 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
Nindra of Lord Narayana. It is required by
yogis, sages and bhaktas so that they can
be connected to GOD. She is a form of
goddess Parvati and is called
Vindhyavasini.

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. 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.also
form of Parvati[13]

Maya …

She is the one who delude 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 Yuga, her effect is highest.[14]

The conclusion to be reached from the

above-mentioned scriptures is that Parvati
or Durga are the truest material forms of
Adi shakti.

Adi Parashakti Forms

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Lalita tripurasundari is the form of Devi

Adi-Shakti who is the ultimate god. Lalita
Tripurasundari holds a sugarcane bow,
flower arrows, noose, and goad. She came
down from her loka above this Brahmanda
to destroy Bhandasura and now is living on
the top of Maha Meru mountain. 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. In her gentle, loving, and
motherly form, she is Lalita, Parvati,
Lakshmi, saraswati, Gauri and so on;
Goddess Kali, Durga and Goddess Chandi
in her wrathful form. She took various
incarnations over a period of time for
upholding Dharma, collectively called the
Tridevi:

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

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

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 destruction of the
universe. She gives salvation to
mankind. She is the Shakti and consort
of Lord Shiva. She helped Lord Maha
Vishnu slay the demons Madhu and
Kaitabha. It is she who also slew
Shumbha and Nishumbha in the form of
Durga, 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
Guna. When Kali is formless, she
becomes the sound of Kreem. In her
gentler form as Durga, she becomes the
sound of Kleem.

Worship

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.[15]
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.[16]

Though core shakta people believe in

direct worship of Adi Shakti through dhyan,
Meditation and 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.[17] If someone who
doesn't have proper guru, then one can
also worship her by singing her praise.

Iconography
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Adi Parashakti's appearance is described

in the Kalika Purana, the Markandeya
Purana-Devi Mahatmya,the Brahmanda
Purana-Lalita Sahasranama, and the Devi
Bhagavata Purana. According to the Devi
Bhagavata Purana, Devi gita. The Goddess
once invited the Trimurti to her celestial
abode. The Trimurti saw the 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.

According to the Devi Bhagwat Purana,

Adishakti is Tridevi – the equal half and
eternal beloved consort of Trimurti (the
three aspects of Godhead).

See also
Shakti
 Parashakti
Shaktism
Devi

Notes
1. Vasantānanta (Swami.), Nā
Irāmaccantiraṉ (1993). Sri Lalita
Sahasranamam: Nama-wise
Commentary in English with Text in
Sanskrit . p. 358.
2. Śaṅkarācārya; Tapasyananda
(Swami.); , Lakṣmīdhara (1987).
Saundarya-lahari of Sri Sankaracarya:
with text and translation, and notes
 based on Lakṣmīdhara's commentary .
Sri Ramakrishna Math. p. 70.
3. Sitaramiah, Pavani (1993). Sri
Kalahasti Easwara Mahima . Pavani
Sitaramiah. p. 90.
4. Swami Narayanananda (1960). The
Primal Power in Man: The Kundalini
Shakti . Health Research Books. p. 50.
ISBN 9780787306311.
5. Srimad Devi Bhagwatam, Devi Gita,
Brahmand Purana,
. "The Devi Gita index" . Sacred-
texts.com. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
7. Shiva Mahapurana | Gitapress
Gorakhpur
 . Sri Bhagwati Gita | Devi Gita | Sri
Parvati Gita – Scribd |
https://www.scribd.com/doc/1475487
23/Sri-Bhagwati-Gita-Devi-Gita-Sri-
Parvati-Gita
9. Matri – Dhyan – Anandamayi Ma |
anandamayi.org/chant/chant.htm
10. "Divine Mother" .
11. "Hindu Purana - Creation of Universe -
Daily News Watch – An Effort to Unite
India" . DailyNewsWatch. 26 February
2014. Archived from the original on 5
May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
12. dus-mahavidyas.pdf, Dollofindia.com,
http://www.dollsofindia.com/acrobat/
 dus-mahavidyas.pdf
13. The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern
Path to Freedom, Empowerment and
Illumination . Stephen Knapp. 2005.
ISBN 9780595350759. Retrieved
10 December 2014.
14. Srimad Bhagwata Purana
15. "Why are Gaudiya Vaishnavas so
Intolerant?" .
shaktisadhana.50megs.com.
Arjunananda Gauranga Maharaj.
Retrieved 15 December 2014.
1 . "Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On
Meditation" .
www.swamivivekanandaquotes.org.
 swami vivekananda quotes. Retrieved
15 December 2014.
17. "Shakti Worship and Sri
Ramakrishna" . www.eng.vedanta.ru.
Swami Prabhananda. Retrieved
15 December 2014.

References
Brown, Cheever Mackenzie (1998). The
Devī Gītā: the song of the Goddess; a
translation, annotation, and
commentary .
Kinsley, David. Hindu Goddesses: Vision
of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu
 Religious Traditions . ISBN 81-208-0379-
5.

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