Key takeaways
- Shakti means "power" or "energy"; in Hinduism it is the Divine as Mother, the energy behind all creation.
- Many devotees understand the Devi as one Mother who appears in many forms: Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, Kali and more.
- Shiva and Shakti are inseparable: consciousness and its power.
- The Shakta tradition places the Divine Mother at the centre of worship; the Devi Mahatmya is one of its key texts.
- Navadurga, the ten Mahavidyas and the Shakti Peethas are important parts of Devi worship.
- Maa Baglamukhi is the eighth of the ten Mahavidyas, worshipped as the power of stillness.
Walk into almost any Hindu home during Navratri and you will see the Mother at the centre: a kalash, an akhand jyoti, red chunri, songs to Durga Maa. For millions of Hindus, God is not only Father or King, but also Mother.
This devotion to the Divine Mother is called Shakti worship. This guide explains, simply, what Shakti means, who the Devi is, and how devotees worship her, including where Maa Baglamukhi fits in this great tradition.
What Does "Shakti" Mean?
The Sanskrit word shakti means power, energy or capacity. In Hindu thought, Shakti is the dynamic power of the Divine: the energy that creates, sustains and transforms the universe.
When Shakti is worshipped as a person, she is called Devi (Goddess), Mata or Maa (Mother), or Adi Shakti (the primordial power). Devotees relate to her with the trust and love of a child for a mother.
One Mother, Many Forms
A common understanding among devotees is that there is one Divine Mother, who appears in many forms for different purposes, much as one woman may be a mother, a teacher and a protector.
| Form | Commonly associated with |
|---|---|
| Durga | Protection, courage, victory of good over evil |
| Lakshmi | Prosperity, abundance, auspiciousness |
| Saraswati | Knowledge, learning, music and the arts |
| Parvati | Devotion, family, the consort of Shiva |
| Kali | Time, transformation, fierce compassion |
| Annapurna | Nourishment and food |
| Gayatri | The Vedic mantra and spiritual light |
| Baglamukhi | Stillness, restraint of harmful speech and action |
Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are often worshipped together as the Tridevi, especially during Navratri.
Shiva and Shakti
A famous idea in Hindu tradition is that Shiva and Shakti are inseparable. Shiva is often understood as pure consciousness; Shakti is the power through which that consciousness acts.
This is beautifully shown in Ardhanarishvara, the form that is half Shiva and half Parvati. Tradition teaches that neither is complete without the other: consciousness without power cannot act, and power without consciousness has no direction.
This is why many Devi temples also honour Shiva, often as Bhairava, the Goddess's guardian.
The Shakta Tradition
Hinduism has several broad traditions, each placing a different form of the Divine at the centre:
| Tradition | Main focus |
|---|---|
| Vaishnava | Vishnu and his avatars, such as Rama and Krishna |
| Shaiva | Shiva |
| Shakta | The Divine Mother, Shakti |
| Smarta | Worship of several forms (often five) as expressions of one Divine |
Followers of the Shakta tradition see the Divine Mother as the supreme reality. Yet in everyday life, most Hindu families worship the Devi alongside Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu and others, without drawing strict lines.
The Devi Mahatmya: A Key Text
One of the most important texts of Devi worship is the Devi Mahatmya, also called the Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path. It forms part of the Markandeya Purana and has 700 verses in 13 chapters.
It tells how the Devi appears to overcome powerful demons, including Mahishasura, when the gods themselves cannot. Its three sections are often linked with Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.
Many families recite the Durga Saptashati during Navratri. Its message is devotional: the Mother protects dharma and her devotees, and her power is present in every being. A well-known verse describes the Devi as dwelling in all beings as consciousness, intelligence, strength, compassion and peace.
Navadurga: The Nine Forms of Navratri
During Navratri, one form of Durga is traditionally worshipped on each of the nine days:
| Day | Form |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shailaputri |
| 2 | Brahmacharini |
| 3 | Chandraghanta |
| 4 | Kushmanda |
| 5 | Skandamata |
| 6 | Katyayani |
| 7 | Kalaratri |
| 8 | Mahagauri |
| 9 | Siddhidatri |
Read more: Sharad Navratri 2026 · Gupt Navratri for Mahavidya Devotees
The Ten Mahavidyas
Another important group is the Das Mahavidya, the ten great wisdom goddesses. Each represents a different aspect of the Divine Mother:
- Kali
- Tara
- Tripura Sundari (Shodashi)
- Bhuvaneshwari
- Bhairavi
- Chhinnamasta
- Dhumavati
- Baglamukhi
- Matangi
- Kamala
The Mahavidyas are worshipped especially during the Gupt Navratris. Some of their practices are traditionally learned from a guru, but devotion through prayer, stotra and puja is open to all devotees.
Read more: Baglamukhi and the Other Mahavidyas · Is Baglamukhi Worship Only for Tantrics?
The Shakti Peethas
According to a well-known story, when Sati, Shiva's first wife, gave up her body, Shiva wandered the universe carrying her. Places where parts of her body are said to have fallen became Shakti Peethas, sacred sites of the Mother. Different texts give different lists; 51 or 52 are commonly mentioned.
Beyond the Shakti Peethas, there are many other revered Devi temples across India, including ancient sites of the Mahavidyas, such as the Maa Baglamukhi Temple at Nalkheda in Madhya Pradesh.
Read more: Famous Baglamukhi Temples in India
How Is Shakti Worshipped?
Devotees worship the Mother in many ways:
| Practice | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Daily puja | Diya, flowers, incense, kumkum and a short prayer at the home altar |
| Navratri | Fasting, kalash sthapana, akhand jyoti, recitation and Kanya Pujan |
| Kanya Pujan | Honouring young girls as forms of the Devi |
| Stotra and path | Durga Saptashati, Devi Kavach, chalisas and aartis |
| Japa | Repeating the Mother's name or mantra on a mala |
| Havan | Fire offerings with mantras |
| Pilgrimage | Visiting Devi temples and Shakti Peethas |
| Seva | Service to others as service to the Mother |
Read more: What Is a Havan? · Why Hindus Chant Mantras
Shakti in Everyday Life
Shakti worship is not only for temples. It shapes values too: - Respect for women and girls, seen in the custom of Kanya Pujan - Courage to face difficulty with faith - Gratitude for nourishment, knowledge and prosperity - Seeing the Divine in all beings, as the Devi Mahatmya teaches
Shakti Worship Around the Year
Devotion to the Mother runs through the whole Hindu calendar:
| Occasion | Approximate time | How the Mother is honoured |
|---|---|---|
| Magh Gupt Navratri | January–February | Quiet worship of the Mahavidyas |
| Chaitra Navratri | March–April | Nine days of Durga worship, ending with Ram Navami |
| Baglamukhi Jayanti | April–May (Vaishakh Shukla Ashtami) | Special puja and havan for Maa Baglamukhi |
| Ashadh Gupt Navratri | June–July | Mahavidya worship |
| Sharad Navratri and Durga Puja | September–October | The most widely celebrated Navratri, ending with Dussehra |
| Diwali | October–November | Lakshmi Puja; Kali Puja in eastern India |
| Masik Durgashtami | Every month (Shukla Ashtami) | Monthly worship of the Devi |
The same Mother is honoured in different ways across regions: Durga Puja pandals in Bengal, garba in Gujarat, Golu doll displays in Tamil Nadu, and Kanya Pujan across North India.
Read more: Chaitra Navratri 2027 · Baglamukhi Jayanti 2027 · Monthly Auspicious Days
Common Misconceptions
"Shakti worship is only tantric." Not so. Tantric paths exist within the Shakta tradition, but most Devi worship is simple, devotional and family-centred: lighting a diya, singing aarti, keeping a Navratri fast.
"The fierce forms are frightening." Forms such as Kali or Baglamukhi look fierce because they protect and remove negativity. Devotees relate to them as a loving mother who is fierce only against what harms her children.
"Shakti worship is about gaining power over others." Devotion is about inner strength, clarity and surrender, not about controlling or harming anyone.
Where Maa Baglamukhi Fits
Maa Baglamukhi, also called Pitambara (the one dressed in yellow), is the eighth Mahavidya. She is worshipped as the power of stambhan, or stillness: the Mother who calms harmful speech, confusion and conflict, and gives the devotee steadiness and clarity.
At Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda, on the banks of the Lakhundar river, devotees from across India and abroad come to seek her blessings through puja, havan and anushthan.
Read more: Who Is Maa Baglamukhi? · Stambhan Shakti: The Power of Stillness
About Acharya Ashish Sharma
Acharya Ashish Sharma has served in the tradition of Maa Baglamukhi for more than 25 years. He is Sanskrit-trained and connected with this tradition since birth, and his office is near Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda. He performs traditional Maa Baglamukhi Puja, Havan and Special Anushthan, and offers personal spiritual guidance according to each devotee's situation, for families in India and around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shakti worship?
Shakti worship is devotion to the Divine as Mother, the power behind creation, worshipped as the Devi in forms such as Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali and Baglamukhi.
Who is Adi Shakti?
Adi Shakti means "the primordial power". Many devotees understand her as the one Divine Mother from whom all forms of the Devi arise.
What is the relationship between Shiva and Shakti?
They are understood as inseparable: Shiva as consciousness and Shakti as its power. Ardhanarishvara, half Shiva and half Parvati, expresses this unity.
What is the Devi Mahatmya?
A 700-verse text in 13 chapters, part of the Markandeya Purana, also called the Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path. It is widely recited during Navratri.
What are the ten Mahavidyas?
Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Baglamukhi, Matangi and Kamala, the ten great wisdom forms of the Divine Mother.
Is Shakti worship only for tantrics?
No. Most Devi worship is simple devotion at home and in temples. Some specific practices are traditionally learned from a guru.
What is a Shakti Peetha?
A sacred site of the Mother linked with the story of Sati. Different texts list different numbers; 51 or 52 are commonly mentioned.
How can I worship the Devi at home?
Light a diya, offer flowers and kumkum, recite a short prayer or aarti, and keep Navratri with devotion. Consistency matters more than elaborate ritual.
Where does Maa Baglamukhi fit in Shakti worship?
She is the eighth of the ten Mahavidyas, worshipped as the power of stillness and clarity, and honoured at Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda.