yogamaya shakti | योगमाया शक्ति
Yogmaya shakti (Devanagari: योगमाया शक्ति; ISO 15919: yogamāyā śakti) is the all-powerful internal power of God. This power grants Him the complete ability to enact His will (doing what He wants and not doing what He doesn't want) and makes the impossible possible.
🌟 Examples of Yogamaya's Effect
It is through this power that God performs actions (lilas) that appear contrary to His supreme, all-powerful nature:
- Fear and Devotion: Though Yamaraj (the God of Death) is terrified of Shri Krishna, Krishna Himself feels scared of a thin stick held by Yashoda Maiya.
- Need vs. Actions: Though Shri Krishna has no need for sustenance (He is ever-satisfied bliss), He performs odd jobs—such as picking up cow dung cakes, dancing on the streets for devotees, and begging for food—just to obtain a handful of buttermilk.
- Omniscience vs. Illusion: Though He is Omnipresent and Omniscient, He appears to run around the forest searching for Mother Sita.
- Creation's Paradox: Though He is pure bliss and the material world is created by Him, the material world is simultaneously devoid of bliss.
- Natural Laws: This power even allows Him to perform actions contrary to natural law, such as making fire emerge from water during creation.
📜 Other Names for Yogamaya Shakti
This internal power is also known by many other names, which reflect various aspects of its nature:
- Svarupa Shakti (Devanagari: स्वरूप शक्ति ISO15919: svarūpa śakti ) means power which is true to His nature
- Para shakti (Devanagari: परा शक्ति ISO15919: parā śakti ) means the superior power,
- Chit shakti (Devanagari: चित् शक्ति ISO15919: cit śakti ),
- Antaranga shakti (Devanagari: अन्तरंगा शक्ति ISO15919: antaraṁgā śakti ) means the internal power.