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]