the Shaktis of sadashiva Shāstra Pramana on Shakti
parameśāt purāvāptam idam jñāmṛtam mayā | tatsamāsena te vakṣye tattvānām prati saṁcaram || 7 || prasannam paramam śāntaṁ ajam īśānaṁ avyayam | śivatattvam sunirvāṇāṁ acyutaṁ ca sanātanaṁ || 8 ||
**This nectarine knowledge was received by me earlier from the Supreme Lord Ananteshvara. Now I will reveal this knowledge to you collectively as well as briefly. This Shivatattvam is the one into which all the categories and evolutes are absorbed back. It is pure, bright and clear. It is identical with the transcendent supreme state. Being free from mutations and modifications, it is of the nature of untainted purity and undisturbed tranquility. It is unborn. Being identical with Shiva Himself, it is in eternal existence.**
It never gets shrouded by the darkness of untruth and ignorance. It is the exalted state of absolute dissolution, representing the nature of supreme bliss and total Oneness with Lord S'iva. Through the continued transmission, it is flourishing from time immemorial.
tasamattejaḥ susampurnaṁ śaktyaśtaka samanvitam | vibhinnam tvaṣtadhā bhuyah śivecchā vidhicoditam || 9 || ananteśastataḥ purvam tataḥ suksmaḥ sivottamaḥ | ekantraikarudro ca trimurtiścānala-dyutih || 10 || śrikantḥaśca śikhandī ca suryakoṭi samaprabhau | aṣtāvete mahātmānas-tasmattejo viniḥsṛtaḥ || 11 ||
**From the supreme state of total Oneness (susampurnam) with Shiva, an effulgent column of light, undivided wholeness, appeared associated with 8 Shaktis, shaktya-aśtaka. Next, it got variegated again into 8 luminous souls as willed and stimulated by Shiva's Iccha Shakti, power of Will. These 8 luminous souls are: Ananteshwara, Sukshma, Sivottama, Ekanetra, Ekarudra, Trimurti, who was as resplendent as fire, Srikantha and Shikhandi. All of them were with immeasurable brilliance of 10 million suns. There were 8 Shivas, the Great Vidyeshvaras, who manifested from that luminous column.**
~ Raurava Agama, Vidyā Pādaḥ, Shiva-tattvaṇi, vr. 9-11