Sakthism
Shaktism worship of the Hindu goddess Shakti (Sanskrit: “Power” or “Energy”). Shaktism is, (together with Vaishnavism and Shaivism,) is one of the major forms of modern Hinduism especially popular in Bengal and Assam. Shakti is conceived of either as the paramount goddess or as the consort of a male deity, generally Shiva. Hindus worship Shakti as the divine mother who calls for absolute surrender. Yogis regard Shakti as the power, lying dormant within the body as a coiled serpent (kundalini), that must be aroused and realized to reach spiritual liberation. Shaktism is an essential part of Hindu Tantra, a system of practices involving the worship of the goddess and designed to empower and release both mind and body. The Sruti and Smriti texts of Hinduism form an important scriptural framework in Shaktism. Scriptures such as the Devi Mahatmya , Devi-Bhagavata Purana , Kalika Purana , and Sh...