Shivashakti, Śivaśakti, Shiva-shakti: 11 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Shaktism
3. Shaivism
Biology
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also
Buy products

Introduction:

Shivashakti means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. 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 Śivaśakti can be transliterated into English as Sivasakti or Shivashakti, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Śivaśakti (शिवशक्ति) refers to Śiva’s own manifestion, and is used to describe Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.41.—Accordingly, as Viṣṇu and others eulogized Śiva:—“[...] O great lord, the lord of the gods and the prescriber of worldly conventions, we know you to be Śiva and Brahman, thanks to your favour. [...] You alone create, sustain and annihilate the universe under your control like a spider (weaving its web). You sport about with Śivaśakti—your own manifestation (i.e., svarūpa)”.

context information

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Śivaśakti (शिवशक्ति) refers to the “oneness of Śiva and Śakti”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] (Kuṇḍalinī, the energy in the body) whose form is that of a sleeping snake and (which is) shaped (round like) an earring, awakes and moves quickly following the path of the Channel of Brahmā (brahmānāḍī-pathānugā). She moves by the Path of Brahmā (and advances) progressively piercing through the body and, having penetrated into the Supreme Place, that is, the supreme limit (parāntika) at the end of the Transmental, (the adept experiences) the oneness of Śiva and Śakti [i.e., śivaśakti] which is the ‘churning’ that is like wonder. [...]”.

context information

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: academia.edu: Religious Inclusivism in the Writings of an Early Modern Sanskrit Intellectual (Shaivism)

Śivaśakti (शिवशक्ति) refers to “Śiva’s śakti”, according to the Pauṣkara-āgama, quoted by Appaya’s South Indian Śaiva contemporary, Śivāgrayogin (16th century), in his Śaivaparibhāṣā.—Śivāgrayogin too holds that neither Śiva nor Śakti can function as the material cause of the world inasmuch as they have the nature of consciousness. Śivāgrayogin also rejects vivartavāda as a possible solution to this problem for the same reasons as Aghora: “Nor is Śiva’s Śakti [i.e., Śivaśakti] itself the material cause here because it has the nature of consciousness; it is well known that [only] what is insentient transforms. If one objects: ‘Let there be the apparent transformation of what is sentient, so that Śiva’s śakti itself apparently transforms into these various forms,’ [we say:] no. If this were the case, it would undesirably follow that all products are illusory. And this is not desirable for it is impossible that the world be so [i.e. illusory], it being established [to be real] through all instruments of knowledge”.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Śivaśakti (शिवशक्ति) refers to “Śiva and Śakti”, according to the 13th-century Matsyendrasaṃhitā: a Kubjikā-Tripurā oriented Tantric Yoga text of the Ṣaḍanvayaśāmbhava tradition from South India.—Accordingly, “[...] When [the Yogin] wants to enjoy a woman, O Goddess, visualising himself as Śiva [and her as] Śakti (śivaśakti—śivaśaktyātmabhāvayā), he should always have sex with a Yoginī or with a Māyā [type of woman], and never with a Pāśavī [i.e. a paśu-natured woman, or more precisely someone who has not been initiated]”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Śivaśakti (शिवशक्ति) refers to “Śiva and Śakti”, 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 2.28cd-33]—“Now, I shall explain the limbs of the mantra, with which, tied together, he achieves perfection. [...] Śikhā is taught as māyā [ī] joined with the cessation of wind [ṃ]. [The kavaca is] the closed īśa [h], rising Īśvara [ṃ]and joined with an elevated half of twelve [ū]. Now with nāda joined with Śiva and Śakti (śivaśakti—śivaśaktyātha nādena yuktaṃ) he is enveloped and supreme.”.

context information

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.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Shivashakti [ಶಿವಶಕ್ತಿ] in the Kannada language is the name of a plant identified with Gloriosa superba L. from the Liliaceae (Lily) family having the following synonyms: Gloriosa rothschildiana, Gloriosa cirrhifolia, Gloriosa nepalensis. For the possible medicinal usage of shivashakti, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Shivashakti in India is the name of a plant defined with Gloriosa superba in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Methonica petersiana Klotzsch ex Garcke (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1985)
· Feddes Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis (1913)
· Cytologia (1990)
· Ceylon Med. J., (1971)
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1989)
· Naturw. Reise Mossambique (1864)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Shivashakti, for example diet and recipes, side effects, chemical composition, extract dosage, health benefits, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.

context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śivaśakti (शिवशक्ति).—m. a proper name, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 131.

Śivaśakti is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śiva and śakti (शक्ति).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śivaśakti (शिवशक्ति):—[=śiva-śakti] [from śiva] f. ([dual number]) Ś° and his female energy, [Catalogue(s)]

2) [v.s. ...] (sg.) attachment or devotion to Ś°, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a man, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]

[Sanskrit to German]

Shivashakti in German

context information

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śivaśakti (ಶಿವಶಕ್ತಿ):—

1) [noun] Pārvati, as the female primordial energy of the universe.

2) [noun] the divine power.

3) [noun] the plant Gloriosa superba of Liliaceae family; tigeṛs claw.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 28 books and stories containing Shivashakti, Śivaśakti, Shiva-shakti, Śiva-śakti, Sivasakti, Siva-sakti; (plurals include: Shivashaktis, Śivaśaktis, shaktis, śaktis, Sivasaktis, saktis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 163 [Śivaśakti’s Avabhāsanakrama] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]

Verse 167 [Cidrupa Laya] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]

Part 2a - Trika Philosophy (Introduction) < [Krama system and Trika school]

+ 13 more chapters / show preview

The Concept of Shakti in Indian Thought < [January – March, 1978]

Vision of the Sacred Dance < [April – June, 1984]

A Hindu Monotheist < [March-April, 1929]

+ 9 more chapters / show preview

Chapter XX - The Indian Magna Matter < [Section 2 - Doctrine]

Chapter XXXI - Conclusions < [Section 4 - Yoga and Conclusions]

Chapter XXIII - The Psychology of Hindu Religious Ritual < [Section 3 - Ritual]

+ 13 more chapters / show preview