There are various devotional cults like those of Visnu, Siva, Sakti, Surya, Ganesa etc. A devotee of Visnu seeks to establish that his Ista (chosen ideal) Visnu is the Supreme Being and that Siva, Sakti are only His emanations. He marshals many arguments based on Puranas and Mantra Sastra for this, finally to clinch his argument he quotes the authority of a non-sectarian philosopher like Sankaracarya, who accepted the superiority of Visnu and Siva. Similarly votaries of Sakti argue that Sakti is the Supreme Being. They put forward many arguments to establish the supremacy of Sakti as God. There is extensive literature to establish this.
The purpose of bringing out this issue Sakti Number as special issue of Kalyana-Kalpataru is that devotees of Sakti be aware of various aspects of Sakti and Saktipithas and thus develop an ardent faith in Her. And further that the Supreme Being is one and only one (non-dual). Multiplicity is the projections of the Sakti (Power) of the non-dual reality. Sakti and its possessor or Saktiman are inseparably one (non-dual) just as fire and its burning power are one. Yet they are different also, as the burning power of the fire can be distinguished from the fire. In this conception of relationship, the non-duality of the Supreme Being is secured in spite of His projection as the many through His Sakti. Also the projection of the Sakti as the Supreme Being is not affected in any manner. It is the inconceivable uniqueness of that Supreme Being. He can be the many through His Sakti but yet He remains unchanged and unaffected in the least.
It may be argued that in Devi Bhagavata, Sakti is eulogised as the Supreme Being. It is true. These scriptures are meant for the votaries of Sakti who have to obtain salvation through their ardent faith in Sakti. So their faith in Sakti is to be strengthened and made unswerving. In other words the one redeeming power whom Vaisnavas worship as Visnu, Saivas as Siva and Saktas as Sakti is really one Supreme Being only. All the praises bestowed on Sakti or Siva or Visnu downgrading others are really direct praises of one Supreme Being. That Supreme Being may be called as Visnu, Siva or Sakti, Ganesa or Surya. The Vedanta philosophy maintains that the one Supreme Being approaches a votary in whatever form the votary conceives Him, and every one of these forms can be called the Supreme Being Himself. For those who can appreciate this liberal position every sectarian theology is alike. But many people cannot accept this liberal view. So they raise the slogan that there is no other Supreme Being other than that they worship. They look down upon all religionists other than theirs as worshipping a false God. Such exclusiveness is needed to strengthen faith at a certain stage of man's spiritual development but if he is not acquainted with the broad Vedanta view, there is a grave danger of faith degenerating into fantacism. A faith, even though exclusive, is valid and healthy only to the extent it recognises the propriety and validity of another man's right to have his own faith.
Sri Ramakrsna, a votary of Sakti says that "a daughter-in- law in a household loves all the persons belonging to it and serves them equitably. But her attitude of love towards her husband has got its own speciality and exclusiveness." This should be the distinction in the attitude of one towards one's own faith and the faith of others.
Healthy tolerance of all faiths is necessary. If this view is accepted then all acrimony amongst various sectarian cults can come to an end. Therefore the objective of this issue is to see that the acrimony among various sectarian cults comes to an end.
This issue contains such articles in the praise of Sakti as to strengthen the faith of her votaries. It also includes other such articles as to develop in us a wider view so that we may have respect for the faith of others.
I express my gratitude to the Supreme God for inspiring us and making us undertake this assignment. We are grateful to our learned contributors but for whose valuable articles this special issue of Kalyana-Kalpataru would not be what it is.
I thank the editorial staff for their painstaking effort and cooperation for bringing out this issue.
Our effort would be amply rewarded if this issue of Kalyana-Kalpataru can help develop readers' true devotion to Sakti.
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