A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie
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Ÿäkafläyana 160<br />
Ÿäkafläyana<br />
An ancient grammarian who lived<br />
before YÄSKA and PÄŒINÏ.<br />
ÿäkhä (1) (‘branch’)<br />
With reference to the Vedas ÿäkhä<br />
means a particular recension <strong>of</strong> a text as<br />
taught and transmitted by a particular<br />
family or school, showing some minor<br />
variations.<br />
ÿäkhä (2)<br />
The smallest unit <strong>of</strong> the RÄÆTØÏYA<br />
SVAYAMSEVAK SANGH.<br />
säk•ät-kära<br />
A bodily vision <strong>of</strong> the deity, the goal <strong>of</strong><br />
many BHAKTI schools, believed to constitute<br />
the assurance <strong>of</strong> final salvation.<br />
säk•ï (‘inner witness’)<br />
Upani•adic notion <strong>of</strong> an immortal,<br />
unchanging ‘witness’ consciousness,<br />
which is the passive observer <strong>of</strong> everything<br />
else. The Upani•ads use the simile<br />
<strong>of</strong> the two birds on one tree: one eats<br />
(ordinary consciousness) while the other<br />
only watches (witness consciousness).<br />
By focusing all attention on the ‘witness<br />
consciousness’ one can gain immortality.<br />
MADHVA calls the presence <strong>of</strong> Vi•æu<br />
in the soul ÿäk•ï.<br />
ÿäkta<br />
A follower <strong>of</strong> ŸAKTI religion. (See also<br />
ŸÄKTISM.)<br />
Ÿakti (‘power’)<br />
Personified in the Goddess (DEVÏ). She is<br />
either conceived as consort <strong>of</strong> a male<br />
god, or as an independent supreme<br />
being, created from the united power <strong>of</strong><br />
all the gods. In the first instance she is<br />
identified with the letter ‘i’ in Ÿiva: without<br />
it, he is ÿava, i.e. a lifeless corpse.<br />
Ÿäktism<br />
(‘the worship <strong>of</strong> power energy’)<br />
Personified in a female divinity, it is a<br />
common feature <strong>of</strong> all forms <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Hinduism</strong>. Specifically it designates the<br />
traditon in which the Goddess (DEVÏ) is<br />
identified with the supreme principle<br />
and worshipped in an exclusive way.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the major differences between<br />
Ÿäktism and other expressions <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Hinduism</strong> is the identification <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Goddess not only with spirit (BRAH-<br />
MAN), but also with nature or matter<br />
(prakøti).<br />
Ÿäktism may be a remnant <strong>of</strong> the<br />
prehistoric worldwide cult <strong>of</strong> the Great<br />
Mother. In India terracotta figurines <strong>of</strong><br />
the Goddess, almost identical in shape,<br />
have been found in prehistoric sites, in<br />
the Indus civilization and in contemporary<br />
villages.<br />
As a form <strong>of</strong> mainstream <strong>Hinduism</strong><br />
Ÿäktism is especially prominent in modern<br />
Bengal and Assam. The main festivity<br />
is Durgäpüjä, celebrated during nine<br />
days in autumn, when the image <strong>of</strong> Devï<br />
Mahi•amärdiæi is displayed in homes<br />
and public places and processions take<br />
place in her honour.<br />
The main literary sources <strong>of</strong> Ÿäktism<br />
are Devï Puräæas and Tantras. True to<br />
the principle that Ÿakti embodies both<br />
mind and matter, Ÿäktism combines<br />
theoretical reflections on the identity <strong>of</strong><br />
Ÿakti with brahman and the unity <strong>of</strong><br />
everything with concrete forms <strong>of</strong> worship.<br />
The declared aim <strong>of</strong> Ÿäktism is<br />
bhukti and mukti, enjoyment and liberation<br />
in one. In Ÿäktism vidyä (knowledge)<br />
and mäyä (delusion) are seen as<br />
one and the same.<br />
There are two main branches <strong>of</strong> Ÿäktism:<br />
‘right hand’ and ‘left hand’. Righthand<br />
Ÿäktism resembles other forms <strong>of</strong><br />
BHAKTI: it consists <strong>of</strong> the worship <strong>of</strong> the<br />
image <strong>of</strong> the Goddess with fruits and<br />
flowers, the singing <strong>of</strong> hymns and the<br />
burning <strong>of</strong> camphor and incense. Left-