Durga is called Adi Shakti because she is revered as the original, primordial force from which all forms of energy and life emerge. The term “Adi” means “first” or “primordial,” and “Shakti” refers to power or energy. Together, Adi Shakti
symbolizes the fundamental, universal source of energy that pervades all of creation.
The worship of Shakti, or feminine energy, has deep historical roots. Archaeological findings from the Indus Valley civilization, over 5,000 years old, show that goddess worship was a central part of early spiritual life. Human beings, even
in ancient times, understood that survival, success, and progress, both material and spiritual, were impossible without energy. It is energy that fuels knowledge, action, and consciousness. Without it, life would cease to exist.
Ancient sages and rishis, through rigorous yogic and tantric practices, sought to understand and channel this energy. They believed that by purifying their bodies and minds, they could access a vast internal power. Through their deep
spiritual practices, they came into contact with this cosmic energy, which they experienced as Durga, the universal mother. She was not just a symbol, but a living force they perceived in every living and non-living thing.
Durga, as Adi Shakti, is seen as the creator, sustainer, and destroyer of the universe. She conceives all life in her womb, nurtures creation with motherly care, and reappears in many forms, as mother, daughter, and consort. But she also
plays a cosmic game: she veils reality in illusion, or maya, drawing humans into worldly attachments and suffering. Yet, she is also the one who ultimately rescues them from this illusion. That is why she is also called Vishnumaya, the
power of divine illusion. According to Hindu belief, every woman is a living embodiment of Adi Shakti, and thus worthy of deep respect. She is worshipped in multiple forms, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati, and as the energy behind
hunger, intellect, patience, memory, wealth, and compassion. Tantric philosophy teaches that all creation arises from the union of Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (nature), or Shiva and Shakti.
Modern science too affirms the centrality of energy in creation. If so much power lies within a single atom, how much more must reside within the human being? To discover that inner potential, one must awaken the Kundalini, the latent form
of Adi Shakti, through inner purification and self-awareness. To know yourself is to know your power, to know Adi Shakti.
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