Is Shakti worship closest to God?

Shri Jayesh Pandey asked: I feel that Shakti worship is the closest to God as it gives the practical proof of the transitory nature of creation.

Swami replied:- Shakti is in two phases:-

1. Causal phase or Kaarana Shakti meaning the original unimaginable God or Parabrahman. The word Shakti here means unimaginable God.

2. Effective phase or Kaarya Shakti meaning the created creation by Parabrahman. Here, Kaaryaa means the product or creation. Kaarya Shakti means the energy that is modified into creation. Such energy is inert energy. The word Shakti here is imaginable inert energy. Kaarya Shakti finally means this imaginable creation, which is various modifications of inert energy.

Hence, Shakti represents both creator and creation. Similarly, Brahman or Purusha is in two phases:-

1. Kaarana Brahman or Nirguna Brahman or the cause of creation. Here, Brahman stands for the unimaginable God.

2. Kaarya Brahman or Saguna Brahman or the effect called creation. Here, the word Kaarya means effect or creation. Here, the word Brahman means the greatest and hence, Kaarya Brahman means the greatest creation.

Taking the meaning of Brahman in the word ‘Saguna Brahman’ as the unimaginable God, Saguna Brahman also means the creator mediated by a part of the creation like God Datta, God Brahma, etc. Similarly, taking the meaning of the word Shakti (unimaginable power) as unimaginable God, Kaarya Shakti means the creator mediated by a part of creation like Goddess Anagha, Goddess Sarasvati, etc. The transitory nature belongs to the creation and not to the creator.

Shri Jayesh Pandey asked: How is Shiv different from Shakti as i see only Shakti existing?

Swami replied:- Shiva is mediated God thereby meaning that the creator is mediated by a part of the creation. Shakti is a general term indicating the creator and the creation. You can bring comparison between God Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Brahman and Shakti are comparable terms.