Shaktism, by placing the Divine Mother at the very heart of ultimate reality, has given Indian art a distinctive visual and symbolic vocabulary. Temples dedicated to forms of the Goddess—such as Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and many regional deities—are adorned with elaborate carvings and sculptures that emphasize the sanctum as a womb-like space housing the living presence of Shakti. Multi‑armed images of the Goddess, fierce and benevolent alike, along with tantric motifs such as yantras and mandalas, have shaped both classical temple art and more esoteric visual traditions. Across regions, from major temple complexes to village shrines, the image of the Mother as creator, protector, and destroyer has become a central motif in stone, metal, and paint.

This theological centrality of Shakti has also flowed into ritual culture and public life. Festivals such as Durga Puja, Navaratri, Kali Puja, and others centered on the Goddess structure the social and agricultural calendars of many communities, turning devotion into a shared aesthetic and cultural experience. Processions, dance, music, and dramatic performances during these celebrations draw directly on Shakta narratives, giving them a vivid, embodied form. Pilgrimage networks focused on Shakti temples and sacred sites have, over time, woven a sacred geography in which the land itself is experienced as the body of the Mother.

In literature, Shaktism has inspired a vast corpus that ranges from philosophical treatises to intimate devotional poetry. Foundational texts such as the Devi Mahatmya and other Purāṇic and tantric works articulate a vision of the Goddess as both the dynamic power of the cosmos and the ultimate reality itself. Hymns like the Saundarya Lahari and numerous stotras and mantras to various forms of Devi have shaped liturgy and daily practice, while also providing a rich symbolic language for later poets and theologians. In several regional languages, especially Bengali and Tamil, devotional songs and hymns to the Mother have become integral to religious emotion and cultural identity.

Beyond formal scripture and ritual, Shakta ideas have subtly influenced social imagination and notions of gendered power. The elevation of the feminine principle in spiritual discourse, and the portrayal of goddesses as warriors, protectors, and sources of wisdom, has offered a symbolic counterpoint to more restrictive social norms. While the gap between ideal and practice has often been wide, the figure of the Divine Mother continues to serve as a powerful archetype of strength, compassion, and transformative energy. Through this enduring presence in art, culture, and literature, Shaktism has helped many in the subcontinent envision the sacred as an intimately personal yet all‑encompassing Mother.