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When Shankaracharya Discovered the Power of Shakti
Adi Shankaracharya is known as the master of Advaita Vedanta. But there’s a story from his life that shows us true wisdom is only complete when it embraces Shakti, the divine energy.
During his travels in Kashmir, Shankaracharya set out to refute the Shakta tradition. But soon his health broke down. With no strength left, he lay beneath a tree. At that moment, a cowherd woman passed by, carrying a pot of curd.
Thirsty and weak, Shankaracharya asked her for some curd. She replied:
“Come and take it yourself.”
He answered:
“I have no strength left to walk to you.”
Smiling, the woman said:
“Without Shakti, you cannot even move a single step. And yet you came here to deny Her?”
In that instant, Shankaracharya realized that this was not an ordinary woman—it was the Divine Mother Herself. His pride melted away, and with deep devotion he cried:
“Gatistvam gatistvam tvameka Bhavani”
(“O Mother, You alone are my refuge, my only path.”)
From this moment came the beautiful hymn Bhavani Ashtakam.
Shiva and Shakti are not separate.
Shiva is stillness; Shakti is movement.
The sun is nothing without its rays; the moon is nothing without its light.
Shiva is incomplete without Shakti.
This is the essence of Advaita—the oneness of Shiva and Shakti.
Spirituality is beyond science 