sakta

Sakta, also spelled Shakta, refers to a branch of Hinduism that venerates Shakti, the divine feminine energy, as the supreme reality or ultimate power. A practitioner or devotee is known as a Sakta. The tradition is commonly described in English as Shaktism and encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices centered on the Goddess in her many forms.

Historically, Shaktism developed in medieval India and drew on Puranic, tantric, and folk traditions. Core scriptures include the Devi Mahatmyam (within the Markandeya Purana), Devi Bhagavata, and various Shakta tantras such as the Devi Tantra and Lalita Samhita. The Goddess is viewed as the cosmic energy that sustains creation, and she is worshipped in numerous forms—Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, and others—often as the supreme being or as the energy of Brahman.

Practices within Sakta traditions vary widely but typically include puja (ritual worship), mantra recitation, and the use of yantra and yantra-based meditation in some lineages. Devotion is expressed through temple rituals, festival celebrations, and, in certain schools, sophisticated contemplative practices such as Sri Vidya. Important festivals include Navaratri and Durga Puja, which honor the various aspects of the Goddess and her seasonal and cosmic roles.

Geographically, Sakta traditions are prominent in regions such as Bengal, Odisha, Nepal, and parts of northern and western India, with diverse sub-traditions and emphasis on different forms of the Goddess. In modern contexts, Shaktism coexists with other Hindu paths and is supported by temples, scholarly study, and devotional communities worldwide.