Shakti Darshan or Shaktidristi refers to an experience in the mystical realm of action, a relatively obscure but profound means of activating the latent spiritual energy within Hinduism. This practice based on focused gaze is one of the transforming approaches to spirituality within the Shakta tradition of Hinduism.

It may be said to be fundamentally about the establishing outer visual access a person woman's power-from an external focusing point focus on yantras, deities, or even sacred symbols. The thing that made this practice exceptional is based on the premise that the eyes are very powerful mediums of consciousness and energy exchange.

 The Metaphysical Base 

Kularnava Tantra affirms: "The seat of consciousness is the eyes; by them the power of perception and manifestation is brought in the individual" (Kularnava Tantra, 5:27). This understep indicates that the old text goes on to project the outward projection of one's consciousness. 

The universe itself, especially in Shakta lineages, accounts for the play of consciousness between Shiva (pure awareness) and Shakti (the divine creative power). The Shiva Samhita says: "When one's vision becomes steady and unperturbed, kundalini gets awakened by the eye" (Shiva Samhita, 4:12).

Practical Applications of Shakta Dristi Yoga

Procedure for practice usually involves some stages:   

Purification of vision - In Yoga Yajnavalkya (3:6-8), it's mentioned that "the yogi must first purify the eyes with specific practices before undertaking Dristi Yoga". Eye exercises, special eye washes, and initial meditations may be implied here.

Yantra - The practitioner will focus fixatedly on a network of intricate geometric symbols called yantras. In particular, Sri Vidya holds important the Sri Yantra, a very complicated geometric figure representing both cosmos and the divine feminine. The Tantraloka states: "Through steady gaze upon the yantra, one's consciousness merges with the consciousness embodied in the sacred geometry" (Tantraloka, 29:11-12).  

Deity visualization - Once a devotee becomes proficient in yantra meditation, he or she can practice gazing upon images of goddesses such as Kali, Lalita, or Tripura Sundari. The Devi Mahatmya suggests: "Whoever looks fixedly at the Goddess becomes by that sight likewise charged with the divine powers" (Devi Mahatmya, 13:5).

Internal Visualization- This is where the highest stage obtains in which the external gaze is closed and the sacred forms visualized correspondingly within the heart center. The Vijnanabhairava Tantra says: "When external vision dissolves into internal seeing, the boundaries between observer and observed dissolve" (Verse 73). 

Awakening Kundalini through Sacred Seeing 

The ultimate purpose Shakta Dristi Yoga aims at is the awakening of the sleeping Kundalini Shakti, which is the latent spiritual energy coiled at the bottom of the spine. As underlined in Hatha Yoga Pradipika: "The gaze directed with perfect concentration becomes a channel through which Shakti rises" (4:32).

 During the course of this time, the Saundarya Lahari, the sacred text of Adi Shankaracharya, tells about this waking experience: "When the eyes of the devotee meet the eyes of the Divine Mother, the Kundalini rises up like a serpent awakened from slumber" (Verse 27). 

Adoption for Modern Inhabitants

Hitherto, shakta and Dristi Yoga has become an efficient source to the practitioner taking up Hindu spirituality today and hence one begins with very simple practices: 

- Start with simple yantra forms, gazing at them for a short time (5-10 minutes). 

- Use in reverence in a clean and quiet space. 

- Perhaps study under qualified guidance, for traditional texts such as Kularnava Tantra have cautioned: "These practices without proper instruction may lead to confusion rather than liberation" (8:15).  

As the Devi Bhagavatam promises, "Even a pinch of practice seeing with the eye of devotion brings immeasurable benefit to a seeker" (7:34:8). 

Experiences within Shakta Dristi Yoga: A total metamorphosis-from piece-meal views through senses to a whole new framework which reveals the divine feminine energy weaving through all.