Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c25.s3.78

v4.c25.s3.78

According to the Liṅga-purāṇa, jñana, ichchhā and kriyā are the three eyes of Paramēśvara. The desire to create that first arose in the mind of Paramēśvara is called the Śiva-tatva, which is also known as the ichchhā-śakti-tatva. When there are both the jñāna-śakti and the kriyāśakti blended in Paramēśvara he goes by the name of Sadāśiva when the former śakti is predominant and Mahēśvara when the latter śakti is predominant and Śuddha-vidyā when they are both equally balanced. When Īśvara absorbs in himself the universe he is known as the Purusha and Samsāri when he has manifested himself in the form of the gross material universe.