Shaktipata, Śaktipāta, Shakti-pata: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Shaktipata means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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 term Śaktipāta can be transliterated into English as Saktipata or Shaktipata, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Śaktipāta (शक्तिपात) (or Śaktinipāta) refers to “descent of grace”.—Guru-dīkṣā, initiation from the preceptor; particularly the first initiation, which awakens the kuṇḍalinī and launches the process of spiritual unfoldment. See: anugraha śakti, dīkṣā, grace, kuṇḍalinī.
Śaktipāta (शक्तिपात) refers to Anugrahaśakti or “the power of divine grace”, according to the Paramārthasāra with Yogarāja’s Paramārthasārasaṃgrahavivṛti commentary.—Accordingly, “one whose heart has been penetrated/transmuted by the power of divine grace (anugrahaśakti [i.e., śaktipāta])”.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Śaktipāta (शक्तिपात) (or Śaktinipāta) refers to the “descent of energy”, 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, “[...] Having split apart the Meruliṅga and come forth, she moves mountains. She came forth within the heart, her radiant energy extremely intense and very hard to bear. Bhairava was pierced then by an intense descent of the energy (of grace) [i.e., tīvra-śaktinipāta][(śaktipāta?)]. Penetrated by (that) divine energy, the god rolled around on the ground. In this way, when he regained consciousness, Bhairava felt embarrassed. Similarly, when the goddess with a crooked face regained consciousness, she too was embarrassed”.
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.
Shaiva philosophy
Śaktipāta (शक्तिपात) refers to the “descent of power” (i.e., of Śiva’s grace), according to Bhaṭṭa Rāmakaṇṭha’s 10th-century Tattvatrayanirṇayavivṛti—a commentary on the 7th-century Tattvatrayanirṇaya by Sadyojyoti which discusses philosophical aspects of Śiva including the theories of Puruṣas (souls), Māyā (primal matter) and Mala (the innate impurity afflicting souls).—Accordingly, [introduction verse]: “O Śambhu, when those whose perception has been rendered free of impurity after being empowered by the descent of power (śaktipāta) that is your grace see you, pure, your power uninhibited, then, surely, the arguments that philosophers formulate over difference and non-difference are devoid of purpose”.
Shaiva philosophy is a spritiual tradition within Hinduism that includes theories such as the relationship between the Atman (individual soul) and Siva, the nature of liberation (moksha), and the concepts of maya (illusion) and shakti (divine energy). Saiva philosophy teaches that union with Shiva can be achieved through knowledge, devotion, and spiritual practice. It encompasses major branches like Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
śaktipāta (शक्तिपात).—m S Impartation (by a Guru to his disciple) of his power (in the use of mantras &c.) 2 Prostration of strength: also failure of animal vigor and energy.
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
Śaktipāta (शक्तिपात).—
1) prostration of strength.
2) In Yoga philosophy, a spiritual procedure, by which the preceptor puts his strength (spiritual power) in his pupil.
Derivable forms: śaktipātaḥ (शक्तिपातः).
Śaktipāta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śakti and pāta (पात).
Śaktipāta (शक्तिपात):—[=śakti-pāta] [from śakti > śak] m. prostration of strength, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shakti, Pata.
Full-text: Tivrashaktipata, Shaktinipata, Madhyamanda, Mandamanda, Hridaya, Tivramanda, Anugrahashakti, Shaktividdha, Shaktisparsha, Pata, Prottejita, Samskaravidhi, Tivrashakti, Anugraha, Prayashcittavidhi, Patravidhi, Anteshtividhi, Guru, Cittanubodhashastra.
Relevant text
Search found 18 books and stories containing Shaktipata, Śakti-pāta, Sakti-pata, Śaktipāta, Saktipata, Shakti-pata; (plurals include: Shaktipatas, pātas, patas, Śaktipātas, Saktipatas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Hindu Pluralism (by Elaine M. Fisher)
Śaṅkarācāryas and Smārta Brahmins < [Chapter 2 - The Making of the Smārta-Śaiva Community of South India]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 28 < [Volume 3 (1874)]
A Historical Study of Trika Shaivism (by Haroon Rashid Ganai)
Part 4 - Ways and No Way in Pratyabhijna Darshana < [Chapter 4 - Tradition, Philosophy and Scriptural Authority]
Part 3 - Cosmological discourse in Pratyabhijna Darshan < [Chapter 4 - Tradition, Philosophy and Scriptural Authority]
Principle of Shakti in Kashmir Shaivism (Study) (by Nirmala V.)
Part 1 - Śaktipāta: The Dissention of Power < [Chapter 6 - Social and Philosophical implications of Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism]
Part 2 - Śaktisparśa: The Touch of Śakti < [Chapter 6 - Social and Philosophical implications of Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism]
Introduction < [Chapter 6 - Social and Philosophical implications of Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Part 7 - Śaktipāta—Conferring of spiritual energy < [Krama system and Trika school]
Part 4 - Nine-fold grace of Śiva < [Philosophy of Kashmir Tantric System]
Verse 303 [Tivra Śaktipāta] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 954 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 2]