Śakti

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Śakti (Skt., ‘power’). Creative power in Hinduism manifested as Goddess and consort of Śiva. She is venerated under many aspects (e.g. each cakra is governed by a particularization of Śakti) and many names (e.g. Durgā, Kālī, Ambā). Devotion to Śakti is thus extremely diverse: see ŚĀKTISM. As the creative power, able to bring things into appearance, Śakti resembles māyā; for that reason, goddesses in their role as śakti are often referred to as Māyā.