Amit Kumar Saha (Assistant Professor)
M.U.C. Women’s College, B.C. Road, Burdwan-713104, West Bengal, India.
A Critical Study of Saktitattva as reflected in Vedic Literature and its importance in Modern Society.
Authors
Abstract
Saktism, the worship of supreme deity as female form undoubtedly occupies an important
place in the history of Indian religious practices. The word ‘Śakti’ means ‘Power’ but when it is
personalized it is regarded as Devi Śakti. Śakti means the vibrant self-conscious energy through
which this whole universe evolve. This idea is based on Vedic mantras propagated by Advaita
Vedenta. Veda provide the valuable information and explanation of this Śakti worship. This female
spiritual Power is the Great mother of the Universe. In the earlier stages of human history, the
woman was the actual producer of life as well as the protector also. The idea of identification of earth
with Śakti was prevailed since Vedic period. This idea gave birth of Śakti. Saktism gained more
prominence in the epic period.