Shiva by Himself is complete and needs no external support for His existence. However, Shiva, as potential energy manifests in his different and varied forms with diverse functions and thereby creates the paraphernalia of Shakti! Thus, from Shiva ('a' in Shiva is brahmn/ Purusha) emanates Shive ('e' in Shive is the creative power)! Shive manifests in various other Shakti forms such as Parvati, Kali,Durge, etc. So also is Narayana, the Maha Purusha, and His prowess Maha Lakshmi! One who Creates and enters into His Creation are known as Purusha and His Prakruti (sva bhava). There is no functional attributes, as such! The Prakruti aspect functions as if independent of Purusha aspect, but it is the derived powers, not the inherent independent one! This is like the current that provides light in our homes, but connected to the electric pole outside that carries current from the Generating Power House and the Grid. Thus one should realize the sayings in the Gita. Bhagavan Shree Krishna says, "I only exist and all that exist are my own manifest forms"!
We have the Universities where all disciplines of sciences, arts, philosophy, and even fine arts are taught. There may or may not be enough students or even faculty members, but departments do exist! This is exactly the case of the universe where there may be millions of galaxies, stars, planets and satellites and many planets with or without living beings! Thus, we have a situation here that our learned sages have visualized the powers and written scriptures about the nature of the universe. Thus, we have the yantra, mantra, and mantra aspects of scriptures. We have the darshan shastra where the sankhya, yoga, nyaya, vaisheshika, purva mimamsa and the vedanta are explained.
The elders have given us a cultural history, a tradition, the customs and traditions of Hindu society. These are millions of years old, unlike the Western culture where these are not even properly understood! David Frawley has beautifully brought out this. The invading tribes have destroyed and sitorted our Hindu system of religious faith, particularly by inter-caste marriages, This has ruined the very education system and the worst affected are the branches of history (teaching distorted versions?).It is high time that we reorient the system and revise our syllabus and revert to Gurukula system of education, if we are to survive as a nation. The Hindu civilization is an age-old civilization that has survived the onslaught of foreign invasions and hope it will survive this, too!
Now, as to the science, art and technology of Hindu system of philosophy, religion, and cultural tradition, it is essential to note how we have devised the worship of shalagrama (pindi as in vaishnodevi shrine) in Northern India and the icons or idols worship in temples of Southern India. The system of worship is based on the faith and belief system one follows. Even three pieces of stones piled up covered by a piece of red cloth bordered by yellow ribbons will do to worship as in the Himalayan region! Elaborate Vedic chants follow the worship of idols installed in temples built according to agama shastra in South India.
Thus, we have worship of Vishnu, Maheshvara and Brahma in a few selected places of like Pushkar in Rajasthan. and Devi temples as in Madurai (Minakshi), Kanchi (Kamak shi), Guahati (Kamakhya). Thus, we have the Vaidiki and Tantriki Shakti devis- surya, soma, anala, Shiva, Shive, Shakti, Adhya, Vaishnavi, Shambhavi, Varahi, Brahmi, Saraswati, Sharada, Lakshmi, Durga, Kali, Shakhambari, Rajarajeshwari, etc. These Devi are not many, or any different from the One- Maha Lakshmi the powers and glory of Shree Hari Narayana. The various physical, divine and spiritual powers manifest in different ways are depicted in the epics, purana, as devi devata. It is just like the divine Mother assuming different roles in feeding (Annapurneshwari) giving knowledge (Saraswati), resources (Lakshmi) and Renuka, activating the potential in us (prachodana) such as, desire (ichha shakti), creative intelligence (jnyana shakti), and power to exercise them (kriya-shilata)?
Thus, the Vaidiki aspect of these mantra (Rks), yantra (Yajus), and the tantra (Mandala/Chakra) are eulogized! These are like the science subjects with Theory and Practicals! The Shakta clan have specialized in the worship of shakti devata like Kali, Durge, Chandika, Chamundeshwari, etc. Some illiterate people practice avaidiki or vamachara worship that is prohibited! Hence one must be careful in these practical aspects of practices.
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