Shaktism
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Shaktism is one of the four principal forms of modern Hinduism, along with with Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Smartism.
Shaivism emphasizes the worship of the goddess Shakti (Sanskrit: “Power” or “Energy”), who is conceived of either as the paramount goddess or as the consort of a male deity, generally Shiva.
- In popular worship, the goddess Shakti is known by many names; Hindus regard all female deities as her different manifestations and may refer to her simply as Devi (Goddess). In her beneficent aspect she is known variously as Uma, Parvati, and Ambika. In her fierce, destructive aspect she is represented as the black Kali, the demon-destroying Durga, and the goddess of smallpox, Shitala. The goddess is also worshipped as the gracious Lakshmi, who is the consort of Vishnu.[1]
