The conception of God as Divine Mother attained its fullest flowering at the hands of the Shakta followers of Hinduism. They not only developed the elaborate forms and rituals connected with Shakti-worship, but also gave a profound philosophical basis to their faith and practice. The vast Tantra literature represents not only the various cults and ritualistic practices of Shaktism but also its religious ideology and philosophy. According to Shakta philosophy enshrined in the Tantras, the ultimate Reality as pure unchanging Consciousness is called Shiva, and its power appearing as the flux of mind and matter in Creation is known as Shakti—the Cosmic Power or Primordial energy. Shiva is pure Being, devoid of all relativity. Shakti is the active Personal Being and includes all individual souls.

...   more »