Sahasranama position 728 of the 1,072 names

Bhakta Shankari

भक्त शङ्करी

Bhakta Śaṅkarī

What Bhakta Shankari means

Bhakta Shankari is name 728 in the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama, the 1,072-name devotional text to Maa Kali. The Dispenser of Blessings and Well-being to Her Devotees.

Also spelled

  • Bhakta Sankari
  • BhaktaShankari
  • Source transliteration: BHAKTA SHHANGKARI

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 Dispenser of Blessings and Well-being to Her Devotees.

Elaboration

Bhakta Shhangkari is a compound name that reveals Goddess Kali as the benevolent giver of welfare to her devotees. Bhakta means "devotee," and Shhangkari is a form of Shankari, meaning "Dispenser of blessings, well-being, or peace."

The Mother's Benevolence Though her iconography is fierce and often linked with destruction, this name brings out Kali's tenderness toward those who worship her sincerely. She is not only the Destroyer, but also the Protector and Nourisher (Poshaka) of her children. Her ferocity falls upon obstacles and hostile forces, while toward her devotees she is grace, shelter, and beneficence.

Bestower of Welfare (Shankara/Shangkara) The term Shankari, derived from Shankara (often associated with Lord Shiva), literally points to the one who brings about well-being, peace, and auspiciousness. As Bhakta Shankari, she grants every kind of welfare, spiritual, material, and emotional, and watches over the devotee's life in all its dimensions. Her destructive power is therefore not merely negative; it clears away what obstructs peace so that greater auspiciousness may arise.

Relationship of Devotion (Bhakti) The inclusion of "Bhakta" highlights the reciprocal bond between the Goddess and her worshipper. Her blessings flow especially toward those who approach her with genuine devotion (Bhakti). This name assures her adherents that unwavering faith (Shraddha) is met with boundless grace and protection, so that even the most fearsome aspects of the Divine become a source of refuge and support.

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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