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Shri Vidya (
ISO
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO ; ; ) is an independent, non-governmental, international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries.
Me ...
: '; ; sometimes also spelled Sri Vidya or Shree Vidya) is a
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
Tantric religious system devoted to
the Goddess. Shri Vidya developed out of various influences, especially
Kāśmīr Shaivism, and its doctrines remain similar to this tradition.
In the principally
Shakta theology of "the goddess is supreme, transcending the cosmos which is yet a manifestation of her." She is worshiped in the form of a mystical diagram (Sanskrit:
'), a central focus and ritual object composed of nine intersecting triangles, called the
Shri Yantra
The Sri Yantra, Shri Yantra, or Shri Chakra (Sanskrit: श्री यन्त्र, IAST: śrī yantra) is a form of mystical diagram (''yantra'') used in the Shri Vidya school of Hinduism. Comprising nine interlocking triangles, it embodies ...
or '.
The south Indian tradition of Sri Vidya generally focuses on
Lalitā Tripurasundarī (''Beautiful Goddess of the Three Worlds'') as the main form of
Mahadevi. Apart from Mahātripurasundarī, other important deities in this tradition include
Gaṇapati,
Bālā,
Rājamātaṅgī,
Mahāvārāhī, and Parā. The most important source for this branch of Sri Vidya is the ''
Paraśurāma Kalpasūtra''. A thousand names for this form of
are recited in the
, which includes concepts. The sect accepts and aims to provide both material prosperity and self-realisation. It has an extensive literature.
Shri Vidya teachings are traditionally transmitted through an unbroken lineage of
guru
Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...
s. This ensures the authenticity and integrity of the practices. Without initiation from a qualified guru, it is believed that the full spiritual potential of the practice cannot be realized.
Some legendary sages and teachers of Shri Vidya are Sage
Agastya, Sage
Vasishtha,
Dattatreya, Sage
Parashurama, Sage
Angiras and Sage
Shaunaka.
The most important scholar of Sri Vidya is undoubtedly
Bhāskararāya (1690–1785), who wrote over 40 works from a Sri Vidya perspective. He is the author of key Sri Vidya texts like the ''Saubhāgyabhāskara'' (a commentary to the ''Lalitā Sahasranāma''), ''Varivasyārahasya'' (a work on Sri Vidya mantra and worship) and the ''Commentary on Nityāṣōḍaśikārṇava''.
Major texts
* ''
Bhavana Upanishad''
* ''
Parasurama Kalpasutra''
* ''
Sarada Tilaka''
* ''
Saundarya Lahari''
* ''
Tripura Rahasya''
* ''
Lalita Sahasranama''
References
Notes
Citations
Works cited
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Further reading
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{{Shaktism
Hindu tantra
Shaktism