As per Saiva Siddhanta, power of will (Iccha Shakti) is one with the secret supreme and is related with the theory of Matrkachakra. The sweet will of Shiva to create the universe is will power, the energy of will through which the reflection of the universe takes place in his own nature.
Shiva, the reflector of this whole universe, is full of five energies –
- Power of consciousness
- Power of bliss
- Power of will
- Power of knowledge
- Power of Action
Power of will or iccha shakti is not only the energy of desire; it is, in addition, the power of will. It is two-fold – agitated and unagitated.
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| Sculpture At Belur In Karnataka |
The will power of the yogi who is in communion with this sutra Shiva is uma (divine consort of Shiva), who is Kumari. Kshemaraja interprets this sutra from three stand points – Abheda (non separation, identical) / Bhedabheda (identity in difference) and / Bheda – difference, or a dualistic standpoint.
The willpower of the yogi who has reached the status of the highest Bhairava is Uma, the highest svatantrya shakti of Shiva. This Shakti is kumara, intent on the play of manifesting the Universe and withdrawing it within herself.
In this interpretation, kumara is the root. To kumara is to play, or ‘ku’ may mean the state of maya which brings about the sense of difference and mari may mean one who destroys, i.e, one who does not allow the power of maya to spread.
Kumari (virgin) is one who always remains in the state of bhoktr, the enjoyer never to be enjoyed by others.
Kshemaraja also says that iccha is designated as kumari because the bheda (consciousness of difference) brought about by maya (ku) is destroyed by mari (her). So this shows a bheda of iccha with Shiva, in the midst of difference brought about by maya.