Sahasranama position 264 of the 1,072 names

Shakini

शाकिनी

Śākinī

What Shakini means

Shakini is name 264 in the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama, the 1,072-name devotional text to Maa Kali. The powerful Shakti, the Goddess who dwells in and acts through the six chakras.

Also spelled

  • Sakini
  • Source transliteration: SHHAKINI

Sanskrit names travel into English in several romanizations. This page keeps the common spelling, the IAST form, and the source transliteration together so the same name is discoverable under each spelling readers use.

Meaning and elaboration

Meaning: The powerful Shakti, the Goddess who dwells in and acts through the six chakras.

Elaboration

The name Shakini is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Shakti,' meaning power or energy, and refers to the divine feminine creative principle. In the context of the chakras, Shakini is a powerful form of the Goddess who embodies and governs the subtle energy centers within the human body.

Goddess of the Chakras This name identifies her with the six main chakras that are central to yogic and tantric practice. She does not merely preside over them from above. She dwells within them as their living energy and intelligence. Her presence moves through these subtle centers, regulating the flow of Prana (life force) and supporting spiritual awakening.

The Inner Journey Shakini represents the inward, microcosmic aspect of the Divine Mother. Her presence within the chakras shows that divine power is not only external and cosmic, but also deeply present within each individual. To invoke Shakini in this context is to seek the awakening and purification of these inner centers and to assist the upward movement of Kundalini energy toward higher states of consciousness.

Spiritual Transformation Through her presence in the chakras, Shakini guides the spiritual aspirant through self-discovery and transformation. Each chakra she influences corresponds to distinct psychological, emotional, and spiritual states. By understanding and working with Shakini in her chakra aspects, devotees seek to harmonize their inner being, dissolve energy blockages, and realize their own divine nature. She is the dynamic force that drives spiritual evolution from the root (Muladhara) to the crown (Sahasrara).

Text and sources

The name list follows the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama as compiled for this project. The English meaning and elaboration are interpretive notes for devotional study, not a translation of a single critical edition.

Read the editorial method and source notes →

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