Hinduism gives lot of importance to Shakti. Though there are more followers of Shiva and Vishnu, there are many followers of Shakti especially in the east of India. Let us find out why Shakti is so important.
Shakti is the other side of Lord Shiva. Unless Shiva and Shakti combine, evolution does not take place. It is said that Adi Shankaracharya denied existence of Shakti and prayed only to Shiva. Once he felt totally without energy and lied like a dead person. He could not even get up. He was surprised because he was great devotee of Lord Shiva. He prayed and Shakti appeared. She told him that it was she who gave him energy to do things. Then Shankarcharya prayed to Shakti and found her true nature.
Radha was Krishna's Shakti. Seeta was lord Rama's Shakti. Parvati is Lord Shiva's Shakti. Unless the Lord joins the Shakti, he is powerless. In kundalini yoga, Guru awakes this Shakti. After awakening Shakti travels upward in the body and meets the Lord in the center of the head chakra. During Navratri festival (festival of nine nights) Hindus pray to Shakti and ask for her blessings. Durga puja is a form of that.
