SAIVA-SIDDHANTA

"
:
5fa3Ni*-H u Tn She, the transcending One, the Chid-
(
"
302 THE SAIVA RELIGION.
as our Mother is all these. This Sakti of God becomes the
Mother of the Universe (Bhuvanasya Mataram) as Siva is the
Bhuvanasya Pitaram.*
St. Arunafldi accordingly describes Her as follows:
THIS LIGHT AND THIS LOVE ARE THE MOTHER.
She, who is Isa s Kripasakti (Love and Grace), Ichcha-
Sakti, Kriya-Sakti, Jnana-Sakti, and Tiropava-Sakti, who
actuates all creation, sustentation and resolution, who is
Rupa
and Arupa and neither, who is the consort of Isa in these
forms, who is all this world and all this wealth, who begets the
whole world and sustains them; the Gracious Feet of this our
mother, who imparts blissful immortality to souls, removes
their bonds of birth and remains seated with our Father in
the hearts of the Freed, let me lift
SAKTI is NOT MAYA. $
up on my head."
This Chit-Sakti (Uma, Durga)f Nirguna, is sharply dis
tinguished from Maya (Saguna) also a Sakti of the Lord ;
and
inasmuch as God is in a sense identified with His creation, as
the Upadana Karana \ of the Universe, inasmuch as it is His
Vayu-Samhita II.
II
The description of Her as Ichcha and Kriya-Sakti follow from
first definition of Her as Chit, Jfiana-
Sakti. Says Arunandi : "
The
the
form of this Sakti is unlimited Intelligence. If asked whether Supreme
Will and Power are also found in this Intelligence, we answer yes.
Wherever there is Intelligence, there is Will and Power. As such. Power
and Will will also be manifested by
this Chit-Sakti."
rfSpa, the causer of all :
things 3f?[TP{^nW5TRfil F^TJITRRRRRJn She the
Parasakti, the ancient One, the Chinmayi, and inhering the Lord Siva.
f Literally, deliverer from evil, Mahishasura Mardhani; Mahisha mean
ing buffalo, is a symbol of Ignorance.
^
J The words Upadana does not occur in the Upanishats. The
word Parinama occurs in the Svetasvatara Upanishat: ^^^STT^TC^frT
). The Parinama is also found in the