Question: Can You please speak about the marriage of Shiva and Shakti?

Babaji:

They are inseparable - like the mind and its energy. 'Shiva' means the Existence in Total Standstillness. The legend tells how when the Consciousness arose for creation, an immense eruption of energy - called 'Rudra' - came forth. This energy was so enormous that all the creation was engulfed by this energy and the creation could not continue. Then the first four Yogis, who came out of Brahma the creator, prayed to the Divine to protect the creation. The Divine then manifested in the form of Mother - Adi Parashakti. 'Adi' means 'first, 'Para' means 'Invisible' and 'Shakti' means 'the energy of the Divine'. The Mother will always forgive, she cannot hate anyone. This is important because knowingly or unknowingly it may be that the individuals in the creation may commit mistakes from time to time. So it is important that they are forgiven for this, so creation can continue. This marriage between 'Shiva' and 'Shakti' is called 'Ardhanarishwara'; they are inseparable - Shiva is there and Shakti too. Shiva - without the energy, would be inert. Shakti - could not exist without Shiva. In Adivarapupeta where my Guru was born, performed His tapas and attained mahasamadhi there is a marriage of these two - Shiva and Parvati - performed every Shivaratri. When Swamiji Himself completed His tapas of 12 years, Shiva and Parvati appeared before Him, and entered His body.