Parameshashakti

Parameshashakti in Hinduism is the power of Parameshwara or Ishvara, the conditioned Brahman. It is Maya, the ''anadyavidya'' (the beginningless avidya) that has no reality in the absolute sense but is superior to its effects and inferred by them, hence, also called, avyakta. It is established by '' ikshana'' ("seeing", "thinking"), by ''samkalpa'' ("purposing") and ''parinama'' ("transformation"). Parameshashakti gives birth to this entire world. Therefore, it is Prakrti.(Vivekachudamani.110)

Qualities

Adi Shankara qualifies Parameshashakti or the power that is Maya, as – It is not ''sat'' ("real"), not ''asat'' ("unreal"), not both; it is not ''bhinna'' ("different"), not ''abhinna'' ("not non-different"), "not both".(Vivekachudamani.111) Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati of Srngeri explains that what is never experienced at any time by anybody is unreal and there is no non-existence for what is real. Because it is not possible to determine if it is real or unreal this ''shakti'' is ''anirvchaniya'' ("indescribable").

Paramesasakti is ''trigunatmika'' i.e. possesses three qualities – ''Rajas'', ''Tamas'' and ''Sattva'', and therefore, comprises three powers – ''Vikshepashakti'', "the power of projection" (projecting differently) which pertains to ''rajoguna'', ''Avaranashakti'', the "power of concealment" (concealing the real nature of things) which pertains to ''tamoguna'' and ''Jnanashakti'' which is reflected in ''sattvaguna''. The first two are causes of bondage; the third makes for liberation. Vikshepashakti sets in motion the beginningless samsara connected with the Jiva and also with Ishvara who is the cause of the creation of the world and which creation is effected by this ''shakti''. Rajas and Tamas hinder Jiva’s spiritual uplift.

''Vikshepashakti''

''Vikshepashakti'' pertains to ''Rajoguna'' and is of the nature of activity. Adi Shankara states that from it is the well-known ancient samsaric procession and from it issue forth always attachment, pain etc., which are modifications of the mind; and that desire, anger, avarice, pride, jealousy, egoism, envy, niggardliness etc., these are its terrible characteristics that are inducements to actions of men, by the process of superimposition they are all imagined in the ''Jiva'' and cause bondage. (Vivekachudamani. 113-4). It is the power that projects the unreal on the real to delude the ''Jiva''.

''Avaranashakti''

''Avarnashakti'' pertains to ''Tamo guna'' whose effects are – ignorance, apathy, sloth, sleep, negligence, foolishness, etc. Adi Shankara states that it makes for the wrong projection of objects differently from what they are and is the root cause of the functioning of the projecting power and the original cause for the procession of ''samsara''. ''Procession of samsara'' means – "Man’s transmigration". The person overpowered by ''tamoguna'' and this ''shakti'' does not see clearly because it envelopes the nature of an object and makes it appear otherwise; he considers what is super-imposed by his delusion as true and attaches himself to its qualities. The concealing power of this ''shakti'' makes for untold hardships.(Vivekachudamani.115-6)

''Jnanashakti''

''Jnanashakti'' pertains to ''Sattvaguna'' whose effects are – limpidity of mind, realisation of one’s own self, supreme peace, contentment, great joy and being anchored in the Paramatman always which ensures the enjoyment of bliss without intermission. Adi Shankara states that ''sattva'' is very pure yet in combination with ''rajas'' and ''tamas'' it makes for ''samsara'' in the same way as the original which is the '' atman'' when reflected makes the entire inanimate world bright as the sun does. The effects of this ''shakti'' are – complete absence of pride etc., the presence of ''yama'' ("self-restraint") and ''niyama'' ("practice of prescribed acts" etc.,), longing for liberation, of divine tendencies, and withdrawal from whatever is not real. (Vivekachudamani.119-121)

Implication

Parameshashakti on account of its three ''gunas'' and three powers/''shaktis'' creates the gross body, the subtle body and the causal body of the individual self, the Anatman, which then gets connected with all three states of consciousness. This ''shakti'' prepares the Jiva to experience existence and for the fourth state of consciousness. The three constituents of matter, ''sattva'', ''tamas'' and ''rajas'', which make the world, and the world itself are not permanent, they go on changing, they have names and forms and are constituted by a gradation of happiness and sorrow. Adi Shankara explains that unembodiedness (i.e. the state of not being identified with the body) is not the product of virtuous deeds, for unembodiedness is inherent in the Self. Liberation is different from results of works. Liberation is Brahman.

References

{{Indian philosophy, state=collapsed

Vedanta