WHEN the Absolute is thus brought into relation with us and the world we live in,we have inevitably to think of it as an active power. Hence the distinction that we draw between the quiescent Brahman and the active Isvara.In Sakta theology,this distinction is transferred to Shiva and Shakti.Shiva corresponds to the inactive Brahman and Shakti corresponds to active Isvara.And, as the word Shakti is of feminine gender in sanskrit, the personification results in a Goddess.Shiva is Shakti and Shakti is Shiva-as Brahman is Isvara and Isvara is Brahman.In fact,they are only two different aspects of the same Reality.They are the static and the dynamic aspects of the same Spirit. They are as inseparable as fire and heat or sun and sunshine.But Shakti, the dynamic aspect of the Reality, is more important to us, as we are caught up in this dynamic universe of created beings and have in us as urge to transcend our present state.
