Shaktism does possess a rich body of sacred literature, but it does not revolve around a single, exclusive scripture in the manner of some other religious traditions. Instead, its scriptural foundation is a constellation of texts that together articulate the vision of the Divine Mother as supreme reality. Among these, the **Devi Mahatmya**—also known as the **Durga Saptashati** or **Chandi**, contained within the *Markandeya Purana*—holds a uniquely central place. It narrates the Goddess’s victories over various demonic forces and portrays her as the ultimate cosmic power, and is widely recited in devotional and ritual contexts.

Alongside this stands the **Devi Bhagavata Purana**, a major Purana devoted entirely to the Goddess and her manifestations. This text presents the Divine Mother as the ultimate ground of being, surpassing even the traditional trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and is especially significant in devotional forms of Shaktism. Other Puranas with Shakta content, such as the *Markandeya Purana* itself and related material, further reinforce this theological vision, embedding the worship of Shakti within the broader Purāṇic universe.

Equally important are the **Tantras**, which serve as foundational sources for ritual, meditation, and esoteric doctrine. Texts such as the *Kularnava Tantra* and the *Mahanirvana Tantra* lay out mantras, yantras, ritual procedures, and subtle cosmologies that shape the lived practice of many Shakta lineages. These works do not merely prescribe external rites; they also articulate a sophisticated understanding of consciousness and power, in which the Divine Mother is both the dynamic energy of the cosmos and the innermost essence of the practitioner.

Complementing these are the **Shakta Upanishads**, including the **Devi Upanishad** and **Tripura Upanishad**, which explicitly identify the highest reality, Brahman, with Shakti or Devi. These texts bring the Goddess into the heart of the Upanishadic quest for ultimate truth, interpreting liberation and self-knowledge through the lens of devotion to and realization of the Divine Mother. Hymns and stotras such as the **Lalita Sahasranama**, along with traditional compositions attributed to great teachers, function as living scripture in practice, continually recited and contemplated by devotees. Taken together, this diverse corpus forms a multifaceted scriptural tapestry through which Shaktas encounter, praise, and internalize the presence of the Divine Mother.