The Vijnana Bhairava Tantra

One might ask: "Is it not true that the state of Bhairava is his very essence, and that there is no other state created by time or similar factors, as stated? Does this not mean that the [Supreme] Power is identical to Bhairava?" Yes, this is exactly what has been asserted. He says:

As there is always an identity

Between the power and the possessor of power,

So, due to the relationship between the quality and the qualified,

The Supreme Power belongs to the Supreme Self. 18

"Power" (Shakti) is capacity; it is the very essence of Bhairava, who is the creator of the universe. "That"—the power—is the quality, and the Supreme Self—who is the dense mass of chidananda bliss of consciousness—is the qualified. The power is characterized by attributes such as omniscience, omnipotence, and universality. 18

He provides an example for this:

The burning power of fire

Is not perceived as separate.

In the state of mere knowledge,

This is the beginning of the entry. 19

It is not perceived; even upon reflection, it is not found to be separate. In the state of knowledge, for one desiring to know fire—the entry into that [understanding]—this is the beginning: the nature of fire, which is the burning power, is realized through the experience of the burning effect. Through that [entry], one realizes the possessor of the power, who possesses infinite powers such as the power to cook. It is said in the Pratyabhijna:

"Power is the substance of objects, to which differentiation is attributed due to the difference in results." 19