Iccha-shakti explained

Iccha-shakti 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).

Notes and References

1. Book: Feuerstein, Georg . The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra . 2022-08-16 . Shambhala Publications . 978-1-61180-185-9 . 155 . en.
2. Book: Sherma . Rita D. . Contemplative Studies and Hinduism: Meditation, Devotion, Prayer, and Worship . Bilimoria . Purushottama . 2020-10-05 . Taylor & Francis . 978-1-000-19506-4 . 131 . en.
3. Book: Woodroffe, Sir John . Principles of Tantra: Part I and II . 2014-01-01 . Motilal Banarsidass . 978-81-7822-454-1 . 45 . en.
4. Book: Stutley, Margaret . The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography . 2019-04-09 . Routledge . 978-0-429-62425-4 . 260 . en.
5. Book: Rajan, K. V. Soundara . Secularism in Indian Art . 1988 . Abhinav Publications . 978-81-7017-245-1 . 49 . en.
6. Book: Hudson, D. Dennis . The Body of God: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram . 2008-09-25 . Oxford University Press, USA . 978-0-19-536922-9 . 474 . en.
7. Book: Bhattacharyya, Haridas . The Foundations of Living Faiths: An Introduction to Comparative Religion . 1994 . Motilal Banarsidass Publ. . 978-81-208-1147-8 . 240 . en.
8. Book: Manring, Rebecca J. . The Fading Light of Advaita Acarya: Three Hagiographies . 2011-06-29 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-983786-1 . 106 . en.
9. Book: Shulman, David Dean . Tamil Temple Myths: Sacrifice and Divine Marriage in the South Indian Saiva Tradition . 2014-07-14 . Princeton University Press . 978-1-4008-5692-3 . 282 . en.
10. Book: Dalal, Roshen . Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide . 2010 . Penguin Books India . 978-0-14-341421-6 . 282 . en.
11. Book: Dalal, Roshen . The 108 Upanishads: An Introduction . 2019-01-06 . Penguin Random House India Private Limited . 978-93-5305-377-2 . 287 . en.