Shakta, Śakta, Śākta, Saktā: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Shakta means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit terms Śakta and Śākta can be transliterated into English as Sakta or Shakta, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Shakt.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaŚakta (शक्त).—Son of Manasvī, the great-grandson of emperor Pūru. Sauvīrī was his mother. He had two brothers called Saṃhanana and Vāgmī, both of them great in warfare. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 94, Verse 7).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1) Śakta (शक्त).—A devagaṇa, mind-born sons of Brahmā, in the Svāyambhuva epoch.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 13. 90.
2a) Śākta (शाक्त).—One of the six darśanas.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 104. 16.
2b) The tip of the tongue of the personified Veda.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 104. 82.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: archive.org: Vijnana Bhairava or Divine ConsciousnessŚākta (शाक्त) refers to a category of dhāraṇās according to the Śaivāgamas. The term dhāraṇā refers to a particular way “concentrating the mind”, and can be seen as a means of attaining the ultimate truth.
Source: Shodhganga: Mantra-sādhana: Chapter One of the KakṣapuṭatantraŚākta (शाक्त) is the name of an Āgama or Tantra mentioned in the Kakṣapuṭatantra verse 1.5-7.—“At a previous time, when Pārvatī asked him, Śaṅkara told of the attainments of vidyā in the wide worldly life, in various ways. I observed each teaching taught also by the troops of Gods, Siddhas (those who have attained supernatural power), Munis (saints), Deśikas (spiritual teachers), and Sādhakas (tantric practicioners). They are [, for example]: Śākta... I shall carefully extract all the above-mentioned āgamas, which are transmitted from mouth to mouth, like butter extracted from coagulated milk”.
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraŚakta (शक्त) refers to the “power (of mantras)”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 21.1]—“O Deva, what are mantras composed of? What are their characteristics? What do they look like? What power [do they] possess? What makes them powerful (śakta—mantrāḥ ... kathaṃ śaktāḥ)? How are they able [to be effective] and who impels them [to be productive]?”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarŚakta (शक्त).—Endowed with शक्ति (śakti) i. e. the potentiality to express the sense; potent to show the particular Sense.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Śākta (शाक्त) (cf. Śāktaśarīra) refers to “empowered”, according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as the Goddess said: “[...] That great power (mahat) is Viṣṇu and (its) form is energy (śaktibimba) that abides threefold. The great fools (of this world) do not know the empowered (śākta—śāktaśarīra—śarīraṃ śāktaṃ) body of Viṣṇu. Then those who are undeveloped have the form of many (corporeal) abodes. They do not know the one energy, (the goddess) who pervades everything and is the abode of all living beings who is said to be made of (the energies of) all the letters. [...]”.
2) Śāktā (शाक्ता) or Śāktājñā refers to the Command (ājñā) associated with Jālandhara, one of the eight Sacred Seats (pīṭha), according to the Yogakhaṇḍa (chapter 14) of the Manthānabhairavatantra.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossarySakta.—(LP), written for satka, ‘belonging to’. Note: sakta is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryśakta (शक्त).—p (S) Able, capable, competent. 2 S Powerful, mighty, strong. 3 In grammar. Significant, expressive, conveying or involving any particular import--a word or phrase.
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śakta (शक्त).—f (Popular for śakti) Power, strength, ability.
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śākta (शाक्त).—m S A worshiper of a divine energy under its feminine personification. See śakti. 2 also as a Relating to the Shakti or personified divine energy;--as worship, a rite &c.
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sakta (सक्त).—p S Attached or joined; placed in contact with; cohering unto. 2 fig. p a Intent upon; bent or set upon; earnestly or attentively applying one's self unto.
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sakta (सक्त).—a ( A) Hard, firm, solid; and, figuratively, harsh, stern, austere, severe, cruel; oppressive, rigorous, grievous &c. Used freely.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishśakta (शक्त).—p Able; strong. f Ability, strength.
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sakta (सक्त).—p Attached or joined, placed in contact with. p a Intent upon, ear- nestly applying one's self to. a Hard, firm, solid. Fig. Harsh, stern, severe, oppressive, rigorous.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚakta (शक्त).—p. p. [śak-kta]
1) Able, capable, competent (with gen. or loc. or inf); बहवोऽस्य कर्मणः शक्ताः (bahavo'sya karmaṇaḥ śaktāḥ) Ve.3; तस्योप- कारे शक्तस्त्वं किं जीवन् किमुतान्यथा (tasyopa- kāre śaktastvaṃ kiṃ jīvan kimutānyathā) ibid; शक्तस्य शक्यकारणात् (śaktasya śakyakāraṇāt) Sāṃkhyakārikā 9.
2) Strong, mighty, powerful.
3) Rich, opulent; शक्तः परजने दाता स्वजने दुःखजीविनि (śaktaḥ parajane dātā svajane duḥkhajīvini) Manusmṛti 11.9.
4) Significant, expressive, conveying a meaning by denotation (abhidhā or śakti) and not by indication (lakṣaṇā). (as a word).
5) Clever, intelligent.
6) Speaking kindly or agreeably.
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Śākta (शाक्त).—a. (-ktī f.) [शक्तिर्देवताऽस्य अण् (śaktirdevatā'sya aṇ)]
1) Relating to power.
2) Relating to Śakti or the female personification of divine energy.
-ktaḥ A worshipper of Śakti; (the Śāktas are generally worshippers of Durgā representing the female personification of divine energy, and the ritual enjoined to them is of two kinds, the pure or right hand ritual dakṣiṇācāra, and impure or left-hand ritual vāmācāra q. q. v. v.).
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Sakta (सक्त).—p. p. [sañj-kta]
1) Stuck or attached to, in contact with.
2) Addicted, devoted or attached to; fond of; सक्तासि किं कथय वैरिणि मौर्यपुत्रे (saktāsi kiṃ kathaya vairiṇi mauryaputre) Mu.2.6.
3) Fixed or rivetted on; नगेन्द्रसक्तां परिवर्त्य दृष्टिम् (nagendrasaktāṃ parivartya dṛṣṭim) R.2.28.
4) Relating to.
5) Diligent, attentive.
6) Obstructed, hindered; सदा सक्तं च तद्वेश्म सुमन्त्रः प्रविवेश ह (sadā saktaṃ ca tadveśma sumantraḥ praviveśa ha) Rām.2.15.19.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚakta (शक्त).—mfn.
(-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) 1. Able, capable, strong, powerful. 2. Speaking civilly, able to please by the manner of speaking. 3. Diligent, attentive, intent. 4. Opulent, rich. 5. Significant, expressive, (as a word.) E. śak to be able, aff. kta .
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Śākta (शाक्त).—m.
(-ktaḥ) A worshipper of the female principle. E. śakti the divine energy in its feminine personification, and aṇ aff.
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Sakta (सक्त).—mfn.
(-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) 1. Attached, joined, in contact with. 2. Diligent, attentive, intent. 3. Devoted or addicted to. E. ṣañj to embrace or adhere to, aff. kta.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚākta (शाक्त).—and śāktya śāktya, i. e. śakti + a or ya, m. A worshipper of the female principle, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 2. ed. 87, 9.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚakta (शक्त).—[adjective] able, capable, competent ([instrumental], [genetive], [dative], [locative], [accusative] [with] prati, infin., or —°); strong, mighty, important, rich, opulent.
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Śākta (शाक्त).—[masculine] teacher; worshipper of the Śakti or energy (of Śiva).
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Sakta (सक्त).—[adjective] hanging on, sticking in or to, connected with ([locative] or —°); committed or entrusted to (—°); intent upon, attached or devoted to, occupied with ([locative], [accusative] [with] prati, or —°); [neuter], tā† [feminine], tva [neuter] = seq.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śakta (शक्त):—[from śak] a mfn. able, competent for, equal to, capable of ([instrumental case] [genitive case] [dative case] [locative case] [accusative] of person with prati [infinitive mood], or [compound]), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] = śakita, able to be (with [infinitive mood] in a pass. sense), [Kāśikā-vṛtti on Pāṇini 7-2, 17]
3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a son of Manasyu, [Mahābhārata]
4) b śakti etc. See p. 1044, col. 2.
5) Śākta (शाक्त):—mfn. ([from] śakti) relating to power or energy, relating to the Śakti or divine energy under its female personification, [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]
6) m. a worshipper of that energy (especially as identified with Durgā, wife of Śiva; the Śāktas form one of the principal sects of the Hindūs, their tenets being contained in the Tantras and the ritual enjoined being of two kinds, the impurer called vāmācāra q.v., and the purer dakṣiṇācāra q.v.), [Religious Thought and Life in India 185 etc.]
7) m. a teacher, preceptor, [Ṛg-veda vii, 103, 5]
8) [patronymic] of Parāśara, [Mahābhārata] ([Calcutta edition] śāktra)
9) n. Name of a Sāman ([probably] = śāktya q.v.)
10) Sakta (सक्त):—a sakti, saktu etc. See √sañj.
11) [from saj] b mfn. clinging or adhering to, sticking in ([locative case] or [compound]; saktaḥ or bhitti-s with √sthā, ‘to stand as if nailed or as if rooted to the spot’), [Atharva-veda] etc. etc.
12) [v.s. ...] belonging to ([genitive case]), [Pañcadaṇḍacchattra-prabandha]
13) [v.s. ...] committed or intrusted to ([compound]), [Kāmandakīya-nītisāra]
14) [v.s. ...] fixed or intent upon, directed towards, addicted or devoted to, fond of, engaged in, occupied with ([locative case] [accusative] with prati, or [compound]), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
15) [v.s. ...] hindered, impeded (See a-s)
16) [v.s. ...] impending, near at hand, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śakta (शक्त):—[(ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) a.] Able, strong; affable; diligent.
2) Śākta (शाक्त):—(ktaḥ) 1. m. A worshipper of the female principle.
3) Sakta (सक्त):—[(ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) a.] Attached, in contact with; diligent; intent on.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śakta (शक्त) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sakka, Satta.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Śākta (शाक्त) [Also spelled shakt]:—(a and nm) pertaining to [śākti] a worshipper of [śākti].
2) Sakta in Hindi refers in English to:—(nm) state of being confounded/flabbergasted, awe; ~[te ki halata mem] in a stunned state; ~[ta mem ana] to be flabbergasted/stunned..—sakta (सकता) is alternatively transliterated as Sakatā.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusŚakta (ಶಕ್ತ):—
1) [adjective] physically powerful; having great muscular strength; robust; strong.
2) [adjective] having much power of mind; skilled; talented; able.
3) [adjective] having ability; able to do things well; capable; competent.
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Śakta (ಶಕ್ತ):—
1) [noun] a physically powerful, strong man.
2) [noun] a man having marked courage or bravery.
3) [noun] a man having much power of mind.
4) [noun] a man capable of doing things, jobs; a capable man.
5) [noun] a being able; power to do (something physical or mental); ability.
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Śākta (ಶಾಕ್ತ):—
1) [adjective] relating to power or energy.
2) [adjective] relating to the Śakti, the divine energy of the universe.
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Śākta (ಶಾಕ್ತ):—
1) [noun] a sect that upholds the supremacy of Durge, and follow several tāntric methods.
2) [noun] a man belonging to this sect.
3) [noun] any observance, custom, philosophy, etc. relating to the this sect.
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Sakta (ಸಕ್ತ):—
1) [adjective] joined; united; adhered (to).
2) [adjective] near; close; proximate.
3) [adjective] interested, absorbed in.
4) [adjective] genuinely sincere, assiduous and diligent.
5) [adjective] concerned; related.
6) [adjective] restrained; restricted.
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Sakta (ಸಕ್ತ):—[noun] a man interested, absorbed or wholly occupied (in).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+11): Saktata, Saktatva, Shaktabhashya, Shaktabhisheka, Shaktadharma, Shaktagama, Shaktajna, Shaktakrama, Shaktakundalini, Shaktam, Shaktamata, Shaktamataratnasutradipika, Shaktamoda, Shaktamrita, Shaktan, Shaktanandataramgini, Shaktanandatarangini, Shaktapitha, Shaktarupa, Shaktasamvid.
Ends with (+6): Abhishakta, Anabhishakta, Anushakta, Anyonyavyatishakta, Aprasakta, Asamsakta, Ashakta, Atishakta, Avarashakta, Avishakta, Avyatishakta, Duhshakta, Hinashakta, Madhushakta, Mantrashakta, Murdhabhishakta, Murdhabhishakta, Nihshakta, Nishakta, Nishshakta.
Full-text (+523): Ashakta, Kulanayika, Divyaugha, Sakka, Saktam, Asaktamanas, Prasaktam, Saktavaira, Praudhanta, Purnabhishikta, Avasakta, Nagarupadhrik, Shaktan, Iccharupa, Shaktam, Kaulika, Parashiva, Ganadikshaprabhu, Shaktanandataramgini, Purnesha.
Relevant text
Search found 88 books and stories containing Shakta, Śakta, Śākta, Sakta, Saktā; (plurals include: Shaktas, Śaktas, Śāktas, Saktas, Saktās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.20.25 < [Chapter 20 - The Liberation of Ṛbhu Muni During the Rāsa-dance Festival]
Verse 5.16.25 < [Chapter 16 - Comforting Sri Radha and the Gopis]
Verse 2.8.30 < [Chapter 8 - Description of Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Diaspora of Bhuta (Daiva) worshipping cult—India and Indonesia (by Shilpa V. Sonawane)
Part 6.5 - Tantric Deities (Shaktism) < [Chapter 4 - Inter-Disciplinary Analysis]
Part 6.2 - Shakti and Shiva < [Chapter 4 - Inter-Disciplinary Analysis]
Part 6.4 - Key Drivers < [Chapter 4 - Inter-Disciplinary Analysis]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.3.158 < [Chapter 3 - Bhajana (loving service)]
Verse 1.6.59 < [Chapter 6 - Priyatama (the most beloved devotees)]
Verse 1.2.99 < [Chapter 2 - Divya (the celestial plane)]
Shakti and Shakta (by John Woodroffe)
Chapter V - The Tantras and Religion of the Śāktas < [Section 1 - Introductory]
Chapter III - What are the Tantras and their significance? < [Section 1 - Introductory]
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