{{Short description|Goddess in Shaivism}} {{about|the Saivite concept|Supreme being form of Shaktism|Adi Parashakti|other uses|Parasakthi (disambiguation)}} [[File:Goddess Adi Parashakthi at Parashakthi Temple.jpg|thumb|Parashakti murti in a temple.]] {{Saktism}} {{Saivism}} '''Parashakti''' (IAST: Paraśakti, Sanskrit: पराशक्ति)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/glossary_c.html|title=Glossary|at=Search for "Parāśakti"}}</ref> or '''Parā''' refers to Shakti in her unmanifest state before manifesting in the physical realm.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Jones |first1=Constance |last2=Ryan |first2=James D. |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |series=Encyclopedia of World Religions |location=New York |publisher=Infobase Publishing |date=2007 |p=400 |isbn=9780816054589 |url=https://archive.org/details/wg992 }}</ref>
In Siddhantic perspective, Parashakti is the counterpart of Paramshiva—an epithet for the ultimate form of Shiva in Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmiri Shaivism. Parashakti is the power of this primordial Shiva, and is emanated from him.<ref>{{cite book | title=The Garland of Letters: (Varnamâlâ) Studies in the Mantra-shâstra | publisher=Ganesh Publications | author=Woodroffe, John George | year=1922}}</ref>
In the Trika system of Kashmir Shaivism, Parashakti is one of the three chief goddesses along with Aparā and Parparā.<ref>[http://www.anuttaratrikakula.org/the-three-supreme-goddesses-of-trika/ Dycskowski, 2014, Three Supreme Goddesses of Trika, Anuttara]</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/ch02_03.html|title=Dancing with Siva|last=Parashakti}}</ref> Parashakti is the supreme being in puranic Shaktism and Shri Vidya traditions.
thumb|left|Trishulabja Yantra used in Trika worship, Parashakti symbolizes central prong of Trident
== Parā in Trika == {{Main|Trika}} Trika is a Non-Saiddhantic Mantra Margic Saivite sect that praises Parā, Aparā, and Parāparā as three supreme goddesses. These three represent the three prongs of Shiva's Trishula and they can be meditated upon in the Trishulabja Mandala. The three aspects emerge from Kulesvari Matrrusadbhava. Para means the highest form, beyond the range of human understanding. When it loses its transcendence and manifests, it becomes ''Parapara'', the mediocre level. When it further loses its strength, it becomes Apara.<ref>{{cite book | title=Vijnanabhairava Tantra | publisher=Manblunder | author=Ravi.V | year=2012 | pages=7–8}}</ref> These three aspects symbolize Shiva, Shakti and Atman in the philosophical perspective of Trika.
== Para in Siddhanta == {{Main|Saiva Siddhanta}} According to Saiva Siddhanta, the lower part (pedestal) of Shiva lingam represents parashakti while upper part (oval stone) represents parashiva.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/r7_14.html|title=Hinduism for children|at=search for "Śivaliṅga"}}</ref> {{Expand section|date=January 2018}}
== Para in Shaktism == {{Main|Adi Parashakti}} {{Expand section|date=November 2018}}
== See also == * Paramashiva * Trika * Adi parashakti
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Forms of Parvati Category:Kashmir Shaivism Category:Shaktism