Iccha-shakti

Short description: Sanskrit term for willpower

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).[citation needed]

## References

1. ↑ Feuerstein, Georg (2022-08-16) (in en). The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra. Shambhala Publications. pp. 155. ISBN 978-1-61180-185-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=CahvEAAAQBAJ&dq=iccha+shakti&pg=PA155.
2. ↑ Sherma, Rita D.; Bilimoria, Purushottama (2020-10-05) (in en). Contemplative Studies and Hinduism: Meditation, Devotion, Prayer, and Worship. Taylor & Francis. pp. 131. ISBN 978-1-000-19506-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=scP4DwAAQBAJ&dq=Icchāśakti&pg=PT131.
3. ↑ Woodroffe, Sir John (2014-01-01) (in en). Principles of Tantra: Part I and II. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 45. ISBN 978-81-7822-454-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=OnzrDwAAQBAJ&dq=Icchāśakti&pg=RA1-PA45.
4. ↑ Stutley, Margaret (2019-04-09) (in en). The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography. Routledge. pp. 260. ISBN 978-0-429-62425-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=vQWQDwAAQBAJ&dq=Icchāśakti&pg=PT260.
5. ↑ Rajan, K. V. Soundara (1988) (in en). Secularism in Indian Art. Abhinav Publications. pp. 49. ISBN 978-81-7017-245-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=mLAltYhW-JQC&pg=PA49.
6. ↑ Hudson, D. Dennis (2008-09-25) (in en). The Body of God: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram. Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 474. ISBN 978-0-19-536922-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=0IE8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA474.
7. ↑ Bhattacharyya, Haridas (1994) (in en). The Foundations of Living Faiths: An Introduction to Comparative Religion. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. pp. 240. ISBN 978-81-208-1147-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=mzGlx3-ofJMC&pg=PA240.
8. ↑ Manring, Rebecca J. (2011-06-29) (in en). The Fading Light of Advaita Acarya: Three Hagiographies. Oxford University Press. pp. 106. ISBN 978-0-19-983786-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=PNdoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA106.
9. ↑ Shulman, David Dean (2014-07-14) (in en). Tamil Temple Myths: Sacrifice and Divine Marriage in the South Indian Saiva Tradition. Princeton University Press. pp. 282. ISBN 978-1-4008-5692-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=d97_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA282.
10. ↑ Dalal, Roshen (2010) (in en). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. pp. 282. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&dq=iccha-shakti+goddesses&pg=PA282.
11. ↑ Dalal, Roshen (2019-01-06) (in en). The 108 Upanishads: An Introduction. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. pp. 287. ISBN 978-93-5305-377-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=trh9DwAAQBAJ&dq=iccha-shakti+goddesses&pg=PT287.

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