Iccha-shakti

Iccha-shakti (Sanskrit: इच्छाशक्ति, romanized: Icchāśakti, lit. 'willpower') is a Sanskrit term translating to free will, desire, creative urge. It functions as the impulse towards manifestation within the principle of shakti, the concept of divine feminine energy.[1] Along with kriya-shakti (action power) and jnana-shakti (knowledge power),[2] iccha-shakti is described to constitute the three aspects of shakti in Hinduism, regarded to be responsible for the evolution of the universe in Tantra.[3] In Shaivism, iccha-shakti represents one of the five shaktis of Shiva, alongside adi-shakti, parama-shakti, kriya-shakti, and jnana-shakti.[4]

Description

Many goddesses and consorts of male Hindu deities are described to act as their respective shakti,[5] sometimes specified as kriya-shakti, such as Lakshmi for Vishnu,[6] or their iccha-shakti, such as Parvati for Shiva.[7] For deities with multiple consorts, a divine and earthly consort each is designated as the deity's kriya-shakti and iccha-shakti, such as Rukmini and Radha for Krishna,[8] and Devasena and Valli for Murugan.[9]

In the Sita Upanishad, the three forms of Lakshmi, stated to be Shri, Bhumi, and Nila, are described to be her three forms of iccha-shakti, assumed for the protection of the earth and stated to represent auspiciousness, holiness, and the sun, moon, and fire respectively.[10][11]

In Yoga philosophy, the ida nadi (iccha-shakti) and the pingala nadi (kriya-sakti) when in balance allow for energy to flow into the sushma nadi (jnana-shakti).

References
  1. Feuerstein, Georg (16 August 2022). The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra. Shambhala Publications. p. 155. ISBN 978-1-61180-185-9.
  2. Sherma, Rita D.; Bilimoria, Purushottama (5 October 2020). Contemplative Studies and Hinduism: Meditation, Devotion, Prayer, and Worship. Taylor & Francis. p. 131. ISBN 978-1-000-19506-4.
  3. Woodroffe, Sir John (1 January 2014). Principles of Tantra: Part I and II. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 45. ISBN 978-81-7822-454-1.
  4. Stutley, Margaret (9 April 2019). The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography. Routledge. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-429-62425-4.
  5. Rajan, K. V. Soundara (1988). Secularism in Indian Art. Abhinav Publications. p. 49. ISBN 978-81-7017-245-1.
  6. Hudson, D. Dennis (25 September 2008). The Body of God: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 474. ISBN 978-0-19-536922-9.
  7. Bhattacharyya, Haridas (1994). The Foundations of Living Faiths: An Introduction to Comparative Religion. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 240. ISBN 978-81-208-1147-8.
  8. Manring, Rebecca J. (29 June 2011). The Fading Light of Advaita Acarya: Three Hagiographies. Oxford University Press. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-19-983786-1.
  9. Shulman, David Dean (14 July 2014). Tamil Temple Myths: Sacrifice and Divine Marriage in the South Indian Saiva Tradition. Princeton University Press. p. 282. ISBN 978-1-4008-5692-3.
  10. Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
  11. Dalal, Roshen (6 January 2019). The 108 Upanishads: An Introduction. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 287. ISBN 978-93-5305-377-2.
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