Iccha-shakti

Iccha-shakti (Sanskrit: इच्छाशक्ति, romanized: Icchāśakti, lit. 'will power') 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 (Sanskrit: क्रियाशक्ति, romanized: Kriyāśakti, lit. 'action power') and jnana-shakti (Sanskrit: ज्ञानशक्ति, romanized: Jñānaśakti, lit. '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 sushumna nadi (jnana-shakti).^{[citation needed]}