Story of Bhagavatī

The words Bhagavān and Bhagavatī mean Paramātmā (universal self) and Prakṛti (Nature and its modifications) respectively. Prakṛti is also called by the name Śakti. The following elucidation once given by Mahāviṣṇu about Bhagavān and Bhagavatī is greatly illuminating.

Time, space, atmosphere and the universe (Brahmāṇḍam) are, just like Paramātmā, eternal. This is the truth and reality. Below this eternal Gokula exists Vaikuṇṭhaloka, which also is, like the former, eternal. Just like this, Prakṛti, which is a sport to Brahmā and is also without beginning or end (Sanātanī) too is eternal. In the same manner as flame exists in fire inseparable from it, moonlight in moon, beauty in the lotus flower and brightness in the sun, so does nature exist in soul inseparable therefrom. In the same way as the goldsmith cannot make gold ornaments without gold and the potter cannot make pots without clay, the Paramātmā will not in the least be able to function unaided by Prakṛti. Prakṛti (Nature, Devī) is all powerful. 'Para' becomes powerful enough to do everything when he joins the Devī.

The sound 'Śa' means welfare and good fortune, and the sound 'kti' means prowess. Hence "Śakti" means the embodiment of welfare and prowess or she, who is the giver of welfare and prowess. Bhagavatī combines in herself knowledge, affluence, riches, fame and strength. As the Paramātmā is always with and inseparable from such Bhagavatī he is called Bhagavān also. When Prakṛti and Paramātmā remain combined it is called Parabrahma, which possesses neither form nor attributes. And, when Prakṛti and Puruṣa separate, of their own accord, they assume forms and attributes.

The above is Śaiva doctrine in a nut-shell. The Vaiṣṇavas do not accept this position. They ask, "How is it possible to have brightness or effulgence without there being an effulgent one?" Therefore, the Vaiṣṇavas believe in the existence, at the centre of an effulgent sphere, of a thing possessing the utmost effulgence and brightness equal to that of Brahmā. This 'thing'-Deva—is very efficient and effective to remedy sorrows due to birth, death, disease etc. and to him the lifetime of Brahma is just one minute only. This Deva is called Paramātmā, Parabrahma and Kṛṣṇa by the Vaiṣṇavas. 'Kṛṣ' means maximum devotion (love) towards Paramātmā, and 'ṇa' means he who becomes slave to such devotion. Hence Kṛṣṇa means he who becomes a slave to the love of his devotees. There is another meaning also for the word Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣ means all and 'ṇa' means seed or root; and thus Kṛṣṇa means he, who is the root of everything. In the very beginning there was only this Kṛṣṇa; and this Lord, subject only to his own will and pleasure, divided himself into two, the left side becoming woman and the right side man. (Devī Bhāgavata, Navama Skandha).