8 Shaktis🔗

when the ultimate state of 'Shivatva' is attained

Agama Source: Sarvajnanottara Agama, vr. 57, Ch 2, Shivānanyasā- sākshātkār patalah

Having realized with all certitude that there is not even a single discipline here superior to this Samadhi Yogam, the non-dual experience and having arrested all of his mental modifications and fluctuations, he should practice this supreme science of yoga. Upon such practice, he reaches the bodiless state and gets established constantly in that state. He reaches all directions and places simultaneously by virtue of his bodiless and pervasive nature; he becomes the Liberated Self. He becomes the possessor of all exalted qualities of Lord Shiva who presents Himself simultaneously within and outside the universe.

He attains the ultimate state of Shivatva.

Pancha Kritya, the 5 Cosmic Acts of the manifest- unmanifest, sakala-nishkala Sadashiva (from His kriya-shakti)

In the Agamas, these 5 Cosmic acts are termed as Shaktis of Shiva.

jagaj-janma-sthiti-dhvamsa tirobhāva vimuktayaḥ | kṛtyam sakārakphalaṁ jñeyamasyaita deva hi ||

Manifestation or emergence, jagaj-janma [shristi]; sustenance or continued existence, sthiti; adsorption or disappearance, dhvamsa, concealing or covering the Existence (existential reality) by secretly making it invisible and uncognizable; tirobhāva; the bestowal of grace which results in the ultimate liberation, vimuktayah – all these are the 5 actions, krtyam (of Sadashiva), who is associated with Shaktis which serve as His instruments and body and who is holding the fruits (in the form of enjoyment, bhogas and liberation, moksha). These 5 actions are certainly being performed only by Him.

~ Mrgendra Agama, vr. 3, ch 2, Paramoksha Nirāsha Prakarnam

Maheshwari Shakti is of the Nature of All-Grace of Shiva What is Pāśa explained

तासां माहेश्वरीशक्तिः सर्वानुग्राहिका शिवा । धर्मानुवर्तनादेव पाश इत्युपचर्यते ॥ परिणामयती ताश्च रोधान्तं कार्कचित्विषा । यदोमीलनमं आधत्ते तदानुग्राहित्कोच्यते ॥

tāsām māheśvarīśaktiḥ sarvānugrāhikā śivā | dharmānuvartanādeva pāśa ityupacaryate || pariṇāmayatī tāśca rodhāntam kārkacitviṣā | yadomīlanam ādhatte tadānugrāhitkocyate ||

There is one Māheshvarī-śakti (Shiva-Shakti) known as Tirodhāna Shakti (Rodhān) as being included in the series of bonds. In reality, this Shakti is of the nature of bestowing grace upon the souls, sarva-anugrāhika śiva, which is of the nature and essence of Śiva, the pure consciousness and auspiciousness. Since, its mode of action is to take control over the potencies of ānava mala and to act in conformity with them, It is called Pāśa.

As long as the concealing power exists, this Rodhāna (tirodhana) Shakti brings about the maturation to the potencies of mala gradually, by holding control over them. When the same Shakti brings about the unconcealment of Consciousness within the soul, which is in the form of causeless grace, this Shakti is known as Anugraha Shakti, the power that bestows the ultimate loving grace of liberation.

~ Mrgendra Agama, vr. 11-12, ch 7, pāśa lakshana prakarnam

Bhagavan Sadāshiva's Cosmic Acts are Perfect and Very Secret

दर्ज्ञेु त्वात्पदार्थनां तत्त्वानाम् गहनस्य च । स्थित्युत्पत्तिविनाशानामं गुह्याद्गु ह्येति वर्णितः ॥ 39 || गुह्यातिशय युक्तत्वात् अतिगुह्यो महेश्वरः । प्रकृ तेर्गोपनत्वाद गोप् ् ता सम्सारस्य सदाशिवः ॥ 40 ||

durjñetvātpadārthanām tattvānām gahanasya ca | sthityutpatti-vināśānāṁ guhyād-guhyeti varṇitaḥ || 39 guhyātiśaya yuktatvāt atiguhyo maheśvaraḥ | prakṛter gopanatvād goptā samsārasya sadāśivaḥ || 40

The essential nature of all the objects and all the cosmic principles, tattvas which evolve from the space – the acts of manifestation or emission (utpatti), sustenance or continued existence (sthiti) and dissolution or decay (vināśānām) - all these are impassable or impenetratable to be known or experienced. So, they are declared to be very secret among the secrets, atiguhya.

Through His power of concealing (tirobhāva śakti), Maheshvara (Shiva) maintains this secrecy. Such power of Siva is with highest perfection. Because of this pre-existing power, He is called Guhyātiguhyaya.

The natural repeating process of crossing the worldly existence (in the maya field) is well guarded through prakruti by Sadasiva. Because of such guarding activity, Sadashiva is called Goptre.

~ Raurava Agama, Vidyā Pāda, ch 10, mantrārtha varṇanam.

Qualifications to Manifest 8-fold Lordly Powers – Aṣṭadhā Aishvarya (from buddhi-tattva)

इश्वर उचाव

अथैश्वर्य विभेदोपि लक्ष्यते लेशतोऽधुना ॥ 97 बुद्धयात्मनोर्विभागेन स्थितमैश्वर्यं अष्टधा । धर्मिणो ज्ञाननिष्ठस्य विरागेच्छश्च धीमतः ॥ 98 सत्त्वमुत्पादयेद्वौद्धं अणोरैश्वर्यं इच्छया ।

iśvara ucāva

athaiśvarya vibhedopi lakṣyate leśato'dhunā ॥ 97 buddhayātmanorvibhāgena sthitamaiśvaryaṃ aṣṭadhā । dharmiṇo jñānaniṣṭhasya virāgecchaśca dhīmataḥ ॥ 98 sattvamutpādayedvauddhaṃ aṇoraiśvaryaṃ icchayā ~ Pauśkara Āgama, vidya pāda

Iśvara (Sadashiva) said:

Next, the various lordly powers, aiśwaryas, are explaind briefly as per their internal division. Some lordly powers are related to the body, mind (buddhi) and some others related to the inner self (ātma).

Such lordly powers are eight fold – to enrich the person who lives and abides by dharma, the cosmic laws of life -who is firmly established with dedication for jñāna, sacred knowledge, ‐ who is beyond the worldy passions, virāga -‐ who is intelligent and wise with discriminative knowledge, dhīmataḥ, the sattva-quality, the attribute of restful awareness of the buddhi-tattva generates the lordly powers as desired by him.

The 3 powers express through the body (deha). The 5 powers beginning with Prāpti arise for the Yogis through the internal organs, inner space (antaḥ karaṇa) such as the mind and intellect.

64 Lordly Powers from 8-fold powers – Aṣhṭa Aishvarya related to buddhi-tattva

Āgama Source : Paushkara Agama, vidya pāda, vr 97-110, pumstattva patalah, nature of the soul, Purusha

These are the 8 Powers, such as Anima and others with 8 attributes (guṇas) (given to the) Pishacas. It is to be known that these powers:

• • become two-fold (dvi-gunam) for the Rakshasas.
• • Three-fold (tri-gunam) for the Yakshas.
• • Four-fold (caturgunam) for the Gandharvas.
• • Five-fold (panchagunam) for Indra.
• • Six-fold (sadgunam) for Soma (Moon Deity).
• • Seven-fold (saptagunam) for Prajapati, the ruler of mankind.
• • 64 Powers (catus-shasti) related to the buddhi-tattva are said to be with Brahma.

In this way, the lordly powers are reckoned to be 64.

About Buddhi-tattva (mati)

Dharma, Jnana, Vairagya, Aishvarya – these are the modes of the buddhi-tattva. Contrary to these modes, there are also adharma, ajnana, anaishvarya belonging to the buddhi-tattva.

Of these 8, dharma, jnana and vairagya belong to saattvik. Avairagya belongs to Rajo Guna. The remaining four – aishvarya, adharma, ajnana and anaivarya, belong to tamas. Since these 8 qualities make known the substrate, buddhi-tattva by functioning as the indicators, these are called Bhāva.

Source: Paushkara Agama, vidya pāda, vr 49-50 pumstattva patalah, nature of the soul, Purusha