Shiv-Shakti: The Cosmic Force And Shiv-Shakti

By Yogiji, Dhyan Foundation

The Cosmic Force And Shiv-Shakti

Before creation took place there was nothing but a pervading consciousness that had no name. Creation was the result of manifestation of this pervading consciousness.

The first form in which the consciousness manifested was Adi Shakti, Gayatri or power. From her emerged everything else. Once the universe was created there was a need for super forces or energies to look after the governance of the world. To perform this role Adi Shakti manifested herself into the trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Brahma is the energy responsible for the creation of the physical world. Brahma along with his consort Saraswati gave birth to everything that exists in entire creation - every word, sound, and each and every imaginable, unimaginable, perceivable or imperceptible object and being.

Vishnu along with Lakshmi became the energy responsible for the maintenance of the world. They govern the cycle of karma. Maya is his tool. It keeps all the souls engaged in a cycle of karma. But certain souls want to go beyond this cycle of karma. They seek the blessings of Ardhanareeshwar, the energy responsible for transformation.

Those who have realised the futility of the physical and material world, go back to their source with the blessings of Shiva. Ardhanareeshwar is the form representing Shiva and Shakti as "One".

These energy forces reside in each one of us, providing us with the power to overcome all karmas. With the practice of yoga or union with the Divine, one can realise and develop one's power to raise consciousness beyond the veil of maya and return to godhead, the source where we came from.

After the emergence of the trinity, the physical world was given form. Consciousness manifested itself into two more forms to create the physical prana as jad , the five elements - air, water, ether, earth and fire - and prana as chetan or awakened consciousness. Prana is both jad and chetan , in varying combinations. Existing at varying frequencies it gives shape to each and every physical thing of the universe; prana is The Force in the universe. It has a unique frequency.

In human form prana combines itself with the elements to form energy centres called chakras. Each of the main chakras represents a human characteristic such as emotion, power and physical strength. Evolution in human form is a process of rising above each chakra and this is possible only when one has complete control over all human functions or qualities.

Only then a person is entitled to transformation to a higher level of consciousness. In this entire process the force that rises up and travels through each chakra to help a human being go through evolution is the Kundalini Force. Kundalini is pure power or Shakti, which resides in each one of us in a dormant form in the lowest chakra. For evolution and transformation this force needs to be awakened to achieve Yoga, the union with Divine.

Shakti can be awakened and brought up through the chakras only with the help of Shiva, who resides in the highest human chakra. Shiva has to come down himself to awaken Shakti and unite with her at every level to enable transformation.

Their union generates the power that enables evolution to take place at each chakra - that is, the yogi overcomes the desires controlled by that chakra. Since Kundalini is pure power, if awakened in an uncontrolled manner, it can destroy the human body beyond repair. A guru's guidance is therefore essential.