Shaktipat

Shaktipat Parampara

Shaktipat and Shaktipat Deeksha

Shaktipat is in a way an injection of Shakti. The master injects in the astral body of the initiated a current of psychic power, or a doze of astral fluid of a high potentially by the touch of his hands, by casting a look or by speaking out to him some word or words called mantras, or any one of God’s holy names, or simply by a mere thought. When the Divine Power is thus transmitted She acts in the favoured in such a way that the dormant power of kundalini is awakened, or we may say that the fire of kundalini is ignited and set into flames throughout the nervous system, which ultimately opens the door of Sushumna and rises up to cerebrum (sahasrar) piercing through the six centres in the medula ablangata.

Shaktipat Deeksha is also known as Vedha Deeksha. The term vedha literally means piercing through, because the Guru rouses the kundalini and makes Her pierce through the six chakras. By touch, look and thought the Shakti travels from one body to the other through the medium of the all-pervading Astral fluid; whereas in the case of speech the words spoken serve as medium for carrying the Shakti. Such words are called Shaktisamputitha mantras or in other words mantras charged with Shakti.

Kundalini Shakti and Shaktipat Deeksha

Shaktipat science of kundalini is basically tantric. In former days tantra was an extremely powerful science. There are three main disciplines in it; “divyachar” for practitioners of satva-guna, “virachar” for practitioners of rajo-guna and “pashvachar” for practitioners of tamo-guna. The activities of unqualified practitioners of “Virachar” and specially “pashvachar” have badly damaged the image of tantra and have earned bad name for it. Accordingly they have disappeared. Kundalini Yoga comes under “divyachar,” but with the association of the name of tantra with it too it is nearly disappearing gradually and is becoming distorted and ineffective.

In the scriptures of tantra Kundalini Shakti is much talked about. What is normally said about it is its form like a snake that is sitting with three-and-a-half coils, biting its own tail, and sleeping such that the entrance of sushumna nerve in the root center is enclosed by it. This is extremely powerful divine energy, on who’s awakening and becoming active the closed mouth of Brahma-nerve sushumna opens up. Then this energy enters in it, pierces the six charkas known as mooladhar, swadhishthan, manipur, anahat, vishuddha and agya, reaches the sahasrar chakra, becomes one with Shiva along with jivatma upon which jivatma becomes free from the bondage and assumes the form of Paramatma itself.

Besides the tantric scriptures it has also been described in the Vedic Upanishads as the “science of Brahma” and there are several methods prescribed for its awakening. All the sciences described as “vidya sambhuti” in Ishavasya Upanishad, as “hemvati” in Ken, as “Aditi” in Katha, as “prana-vidya, para-vidya” in Prashna, as “OM-kara” in Mandukya, as “yoga-vidya” in Aitreya, as “bhargavi varuni” in Taittariya, as “udgeeth, prana, antaraditya, gayatri, shandilya, antaryami, dahar, madhu, samvarga, panchagni, vaishvanar sciences” in Chandogya and Brahadaranyaka, as “devatma shakti, savita” in Shvetashvatara and as “balaki vidya” in Kaushitaki Upanishad are different social and customary names and forms of the same divine energy.

In this journey from mooladhara chakra to sahasrara there is a vivid and very attractive description of every different form of the chakra and its petals, syllables marked on them, devas seated in them and about the availability of transcendental divine sciences, energies and siddhis through them. This energy is capable of giving both—all kinds of grandeur (greatness) through all possible means and liberation. Nine forms of Goddess i.e. hemvati, shreevidya, brahmi, saraswati, lakshmi, navadurga and the like are all said to be the different forms of the awakening of this energy. This is also the basis of the creation of jiva.

What this energy is in fact? We find a description of uchhisht-Brahm in the Upanishads. Uchhisht means the “remains after the use.” In the construction of all the elements of the creation only one-fourth part of Para-Brahma Paramatma has been used, its three-fourth part is yet the divine nectar in the form of the basis of the creation—“Padoasya sarva bhutani tripadsyamratam divi”—Chha. U., 3-12-6. This itself is said to be uchhisht-Brahm, which is simply actionless, without attributes and uninvolved starting basis. This only has been described in Puranas as Shesh Naag (snake) holding the Earth on its head. Just as the basic padding of a huge building always remains unseen, even so this too remains unseen; it is never seen.

In the same way the energy saved after jivatma’s own creation should be understood to be the Kundalini Shakti in the form of Shesh Naagin (snake) situated in mooladhar, which is inactive, unseen, and because of being neglected it is lying asleep. There are several methods of waking it up such as chanting of mantras, pranayama, hearing of Naad (inner divine sound), bandha (locks), mudra (gestures) and asanas (yogic postures), but these methods are likely to involve great labor and uncertain long time. At the same time uncontrolled sudden awakening like an atomic blast has the possibility of dangerous and harmful opposite results.

Capable sad-Gurus can effortlessly awaken the dormant Kundalini Shakti of deserving disciples simply through their sight, resolution or touch, just as a lighted lamp effortlessly lights up another lamp. This is said to be Shaktipat Initiation.

Kundalini Awakening and Shaktipat Initiation

Initiation (Deeksha) has been prevalent since the very beginning in the various sects of all religions in one form/name or the other although its objectives have varied. There has been a specific Deeksha in ancient Vedic culture and religion known as “Shaktipat-Deeksha” which was first preached by Lord Shiva and has been in existence for ever since. This is the awakening of the divine power Kundalini in an aspirant by a Guru (master) and is the source of all marvelous divine experiences, super natural achievements and ultimately the God realization or liberation (Moksha). In Sanskrit language, word “Deeksha” means: “Shattering the chain of evils (sins) and sowing the seed of divinity (Divine Knowledge)”. Guru is said the supreme authority for this initiation.

The marvelous and supernatural effects of the awakening of this Divine Power Kundalini (Siddha Yoga, Sahaja Yoga or Maha Yoga) have been highly spoken about since a long time. Fascinated by those effects, many persons become desirous of this occult, be it sincerely or out of curiosity. Taking advantage of this desire of numerous people, it is being misused & commercialized by some individuals and institutions diminishing its divinity and supernatural effects. In fact, this science of Shaktipat is a secret of all secrets and its use for worldly purposes is strictly prohibited in scriptures.

Although awakening of this divine power has its extraordinary effects on all aspects of life, but it is truly meant for the spiritual aspirants who are fed up and tired of all sensual pleasures and worldly amenities realizing their falsity, wish to go beyond them and now crave for lasting happiness through self- (God)-realization, liberation (Moksha) from the vicious chain of miseries, agonies, births and deaths.

Divine power Kundalini is seated in all living beings in inactive or sleeping state and can be awakened by oneself through intensely devotional prayers to God, control of breathing (Pranayam) or by recitation of some Siddha Mantra etc. with untiring efforts (Sadhana), great patience and unflinching faith till it is awakened and activated. This may take a very long time, many years or even births.

Kundalini can also be awakened by an expert and competent master (Gurudeva) instantly and easily, depending upon his own as well as aspirant’s capability and receptivity. The aspirant desiring such awakening must approach Sri Gurudeva (Master) personally with full faith and devotion and remain in his direct contact for a minimum period of three months and up to one year prior to initiation. This is necessary to become well acquainted with each other’s capability and nature. An aspirant approaching through some well-acquainted old disciple of the Guru with a strong recommendation may not be subject to this period of direct contact with the Guru. He must stay with the Guru for a period of one week to one month after initiation (as required by his Guru) to have quite clear, satisfactory and definitive experiences of Kundalini awakening and activation. In very dull, partially motivated, unenthusiastic, wavering and lethargic aspirant the signs of awakening and activation take a long time to appear clearly. This period may be a minimum of 3 months to a maximum of 3 years.

For desired results or achievements, the disciple must abide by the instructions of his Guru strictly and obey him with full faith, belief and motivation. The disciple must please his Guru fully through his all around services i.e.–Tan (physical), Mana (mental) and Dhan (monetary)–according to the needs and requirements of his Guru. Without such services, the desired goal may not be achieved fully. The overwhelmingly pleasing services, touching and melting the heart of Guru, are essential factors in ensuring the achievement of desired goal sooner. The disciple who shuns and avoids services of Guru and ceases regular contact with him knowingly because of greed, willful neglect and carelessness etc. will not be able to reach his goal and may even have to suffer adverse consequences for this spiritual offense.

An atheist, malicious, extremely dull and fickle-minded, whimsical, thank- less, cunning, habitual offender, crippled, physically or mentally disabled by birth, suffering from some heinous and incurable disease, dreadful or scary in appearance and psychotic persons generally do not qualify for this divine initiation according to the scriptures. But Guru is the supreme authority.

A Leading Center for Shaktipat