Shiva and Shive

   Shiva awakened from Yoganidra (or, may be, it is Shree Hari Narayana, since Hari and Hara are one and the same) becomes aware of His Creative power within Himself as Shive. 'Being alone', He saidto Himself, “I am alone, I shall become many”. Eko'ham bahusyam |The moment He looked at Him, Self, became aware of Himself, he felt ‘alone’ and a little afraid too. He consoled himself saying, “Being alone where is the fear? Fear is of the two.” Then He desired ‘to be many’. Where was the problem for the supreme Lord of the universe to raise the resources to create the universe? His own sattva (‘sat’), Intelligence (‘cit’) and resourcefulness (Shreem) manifested to create the universe in its lower three realms of Bhu, Bhuvah, and Svar and at three stages- Brahmanda, Pindanda and Andanda. It is this unmanifest form of “sat-cit-ananda / Shreem” that became the ‘SrIvidyA’, the ‘Abode of Consciousness’. Consciousness as Light, mayukha/Rashmi radiates in all directions- as Sunrays from the Sun, and the eternal flow of Consciousness (prajnyadhara) create Space (desha), Time (kaala), and Causation (nimitta).

   Thus, Shiva only became aware of his prowess and put it into action as Shiva-Shakti and, finally, Shakti became too powerful and independent enough to cover the entire universe as Shiva’s ‘veiling power’, mAyIya AvaraNa Shakti. Shiva, Him Self being independent as ‘Purusha’, self-effulgent, paripurnam (perfect), self-sustaining, all-knowing, sovereign and all-powerful remained un-involved in the process as a Sakshi Purusha. He, being the source of all creation, became the cause of all causation, kAraNasya kAraNaH, nimitta prabhu.  In fact, SivA or Sive is just the prowess (Shakti) of Shiva (samsk.) only. Neither Shive is independent without Siva, nor is she capable of any power of creation without HIM, in Truth. But, it is ironical that Shakti is depicted as an Independent Power by the Shaakta devotees, in their exalted state of Bhakti, unmanI. Shaktas (Kaulas) declare Devi Maa as Shakti, Kali, Durga, Chamunda- an independent power. They call her ‘Devi Tripurasundari’ or ‘Amba Bhavani’ and innumerable names; here, Shankara remains a mute witness while His Shakti is operative, creating the universe! Every light and shade, like the phases of the Moon, become the creative and destructive aspects of Shiva (Shive).

   Thus, the Shiva cult and the Shakti cult started separately with separate codes, rules and regulations of worship (puja vidhi and vidhana). Many other branches sprouted from these roots having their own tradition and practices. Thus, this Shakti tradition became a very complex system of worship of Devi. Today we find Shaktas worshiping Devi in different Shakhas, tradition and panthas such as Natha, Srividya upasakas, etc. they take to Lalitasahasranama archana, sing Soundaryalahari in nAda upasana, worship Sri Chakra, and contemplate on Devi and meditate with the sacred seed letter (Bija mantra) (mantropasane).