Shaktism approaches the Divine by recognizing Shakti, the Goddess, as the absolute reality itself, the very ground and dynamic power of existence. Here the feminine is not a supporting presence but the supreme, independent principle; even deities such as Shiva and Vishnu can be understood as expressions or instruments of Her power. By contrast, Shaivism regards Shiva as the ultimate reality, with Shakti most often treated as His intrinsic energy or consort, and Vaishnavism sees Vishnu (or Krishna, Rama, etc.) as the supreme Lord, with goddesses like Lakshmi or Radha revered yet not usually elevated as the final Godhead. In this way, Shaktism places the creative, dynamic aspect of divinity at the very center, while the other traditions typically give metaphysical primacy to a male deity.

This difference in ultimate focus shapes the inner mood and metaphysics of each path. Shaktism emphasizes the universe as a living manifestation of the Goddess, stressing dynamic power, creativity, and immanence; the world is often seen as Her body or play, and liberation is described as realizing one’s identity with Shakti, even while living. Shaivism, on the other hand, tends to highlight pure consciousness—Shiva—as the ground of being, with Shakti as His power, and many of its schools lean toward transcending identification with the world. Vaishnavism centers on a personal, transcendent Lord whose energies constitute the cosmos, and it commonly portrays the highest state as eternal loving relationship or service to Vishnu, grounded in devotion and surrender.

These theological nuances are reflected in devotional life and ritual. Shaktism orients worship around forms of the Goddess—Durga, Kali, Lalita Tripurasundari and others—using mantras, yantras such as the Śrī Yantra, and a wide spectrum of Tantric practices, from highly orthodox pūjā to more esoteric lineages. Shaivism likewise has powerful Tantric currents, yet many of its lineages are marked by asceticism, meditation, and liṅga worship as central expressions of devotion to Shiva. Vaishnavism tends to emphasize temple worship, kīrtan, recitation of divine names, and scriptural study, with Tantra playing a less prominent role in its mainstream forms. In each case, the style of practice mirrors the underlying vision of what the ultimate reality is and how the soul is meant to relate to it.

The distinct scriptural canons of these traditions further crystallize their orientations. Shaktism gathers around texts such as the Devī Māhātmya, the Devī Bhāgavata Purāṇa, and various Tantras that extol the Goddess as supreme. Shaivism looks to works like the Śiva Purāṇa, Liṅga Purāṇa, and numerous Āgamas and Tantras, while Vaishnavism draws heavily on the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Bhāgavata Purāṇa, the Rāmāyaṇa, the Mahābhārata (especially the Bhagavad Gītā), and Vaishnava Āgamas. Across these streams, the feminine is revered as essential, yet Shaktism stands apart by granting the Goddess ontological primacy, making Her not merely the power of the divine, but the very face of the Absolute.