Parashakti
{{short description|Hindu goddess}}
{{about|the Saivite concept|Supreme being form of Shaktism|Adi Parashakti|other uses|Parasakthi (disambiguation)}}
File:Goddess Adi Parashakthi at Parashakthi Temple.jpg in a temple.]]
{{Saktism}}
{{Saivism}}
Parashakti (IAST: Paraśakti, Sanskrit: पराशक्ति){{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/glossary_c.html|title=Glossary|at=Search for "Parāśakti"}} or Parā is one of the three chief goddesses in Trika system of Kashmir Shaivism along with Aparā and Parparā.[http://www.anuttaratrikakula.org/the-three-supreme-goddesses-of-trika/ Dycskowski, 2014, Three Supreme Goddesses of Trika, Anuttara] In Siddhantic perspective, Parashakti is the counterpart of Paramshiva. Paramshiva is used to describe the ultimate form of Shiva in Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmiri Shaivism. Parashakti is the power of this primordial Shiva, who is emanated by Paramshiva. Adi Parashakti is used to describe the Divine Mother (Supreme Feminine Energy/Mother of whole creation) in Hindu scriptures.{{cite book | title=The Garland of Letters: (Varnamâlâ) Studies in the Mantra-shâstra | publisher=Ganesh Publications | author=Woodroffe, John George | year=1922}} Parashakti is an all-pervasive, pure consciousness, power, and primal substance of all that exists and it has Mahamaya-form, unlike Parashiva which is formless.{{Cite book|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/ch02_03.html|title=Dancing with Siva|last=Parashakti}} A Parashakti as the supreme being of puranic Shaktism and of Sri Vidya obtained the name Adi Parashakti and Maheshvari-Devi.
Parā in Trika
{{Main|Trika}}
Trika is a Non-Saiddhantic Mantra Margic Saivite sect that praises Parā, Aparā, and Parāparā as three supreme goddesses. These three represent the three prongs of Shiva's Trishula and they can be meditated upon in the Trishulabja Mandala. The three aspects emerge from Kulesvari Matrrusadbhava. Para means the highest form, beyond the range of human understanding. When it loses its transcendence and manifests, it becomes Parapara, the mediocre level. When it further loses its strength, it becomes Apara.{{cite book | title=Vijnanabhairava Tantra | publisher=Manblunder | author=Ravi.V | year=2012 | pages=7–8}} These three aspects symbolize Shiva, Shakti and Atman in the philosophical perspective of Trika.
Para in Siddhanta
{{Main|Saiva Siddhanta}}
According to Saiva Siddhanta, the lower part (pedestal) of Shiva lingam represents parashakti while upper part (oval stone) represents parashiva.{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/r7_14.html|title=Hinduism for children|at=search for "Śivaliṅga"}}
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Para in Shaktism
{{Main|Adi Parashakti}}
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See also
References
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