// Diksha (initiation) //
Revealing the Truth, imparting the pure knowledge of Truth, transmitting the
spiritual energy, purifying the disciple by burning his karmas or sins through
different rites and disciplines--all this is included in the word "diksha"
(initiation).
Diksha
dispels the ignorance of the disciple, removes the impurities in his body and
mind, and blesses the disciple with the fragrance of holiness. Wisdom, Light and
inspiration energy is transmitted into his heart and the disciple experiences
divine joy and peace.
There
are three kinds of higher initiations. They are called shakti diksha, mantra
diksha, and shambhavi diksha. When the guru awakens the shakti kundalini (the
divine energy located at the base of the spine) and makes it flow through the
spiritual spinal column (sushumna nadi) until the shakti merges in Shiva (pure
consciousness of God), it is called the "shakti diksha".
When the
disciple has prepared himself with fasting, prayer, and other disciplines,
seeing the place and the time as auspicious, the guru expands the disciple's
consciousness by imparting a power-word or mantra. This is called "mantra diksha."
And when the guru is in a high divine mood and feels that the disciple is ready
and worthy of such a high initiation, he leads him to the pinnacle of divine
experience either by a glance or looking into his eyes or by a touch--making him
one like himself--then such a kriya or transmission of energy is called "shambhavi
diksha".
All have
to go through the mantra diksha to receive the shakti diksha or shambhavi diksha.
Either by the merits of past lives or through rigorous spiritual disciplines of
this life, or by a special grace of God or Guru, one is blessed with these
initiations. These three initiations are known as maha-diksha or great
initiations.
Now,
there are four smaller initiations to prepare the disciple for the higher
initiations. They are called Kriyaavati, Varnamayi, Kalaavati, and Vedhamayi.
Kriyaavati initiation is related to several kinds of rituals and worship
services that purify the disciple by bringing the blessings of deities.
Varnamayi initiation is called nyaasa, which means locating the consciousness in
different parts of the body and limbs and making the mystical syllable vibrate
that part of the body until the disciple feels the throb of the mantra all over
his body.
Kaalavati shakti initiation is extraordinary. Through this initiation, the guru
integrates the five kinds of shaktis in the body of the disciple together and
makes the disciple realize his great Self. These five different shaktis are
known as: nivritti shakti or the energy of detachment, which flows from the
soles of the feet up to the knee; pratista shakti, or the settled energy that
flows from the knee up to the navel center; vidya shakti, or the wisdom energy
that flows from the navel center up to the throat chakra, shanti shakti, or the
peace energy that flows from the throat center to the forehead center;
shaantyaatitakalaashakti, or the energy of the "peace that passeth all
understanding" that flows from the forehead to the top of the head or crown
chakra. In this initiation, the spiritual Master calls all the shaktis from the
body of the disciple by the power of the Lord and integrates them all in his
crown chakra and gives him an experience with Lord Shiva.
The
fourth initiation is known as Vedhamayi, which means making the energy kundalini
to pass through all six chakras or mystic centers in the astral body. The guru
does this with his grace upon the deserving disciple by uttering the word or the
mantra for each chakra and leading him gently through the sushumna to the crown
center.
There
are two other kinds of special dikshas known as panchaayatanee diksha and krama
diksha.
In the
panchaayatanee diksha, five aspects of God known as Shakti, Vishnu, Shiva, Surya
and Ganesha are invoked in the body of the disciple. In the outward worship, any
one of these aspects of God is given importance as per one's chosen deity (Ishta
Devata), and the other four are kept in the four directions, keeping the chosen
deity in the middle. Then the puja (worship) of the deities is conducted by the
disciple as per the instruction of the guru. Thereafter, the guru will explain
the mystical meaning of that worship and invoke those deities in the body of the
disciple and give him an experience of the Divine. By this experience, he is
able to see many in one and one in many.
Krama
diksha means an initiation in which the disciple will have a gradual expansion
of consciousness. Service and obedience to the guru plays an important role in
all the initiations and especially in this diksha. Daily participation in
worship of God, chanting of the mantras and prayers, listening attentively to
the words of the guru, reverently bowing before him again and again with
devotion, serving him selflessly, and pleasing him through seriously practicing
the disciplines given by him, are some of the ways through which the disciple
prepares himself to receive the light.
After
the initiation, guru will give some instructions which should be carried out by
the disciple. Some such instructions are as follows:
1. The
disciple should not tell the guru-given mantra to anyone. He should not say the
mantra publicly.
2. If
the guru has taught a private puja or worship of a deity as a sadhana or
spiritual discipline, it should not be revealed, taught or publicized unless
through the guru's permission.
3. Holy
scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, etc., should be read. And
whichever scripture the guru has recommended to be read, the same should be read
with all devotion.
4.
Honoring other Masters, serving the needy and the poor, serving the aged
parents--all kind acts should be done diligently.
5.
Rhythmic breathing, japa (repetition of the mantra), puja, and meditation should
be practiced everyday without fail.
6. Any
great spiritual experience or dream experiences should not be said before
others, other than one's own guru.
7. One
who scrupulously follows the spiritual instructions of the guru certainly
attains the Supreme.
In the
Kulaarnava Tantra, three more kinds of dikshas are explained. They are sparsha
diksha, or initiation by a touch; drik diksha, or initiation through a glance;
dhyaana diksha, or initiation through the guru's mere thought of the disciple.
Sparsha diksha occurs when the guru, attuning himself with God and preparing the
heart of the disciple, touches the disciple and transmits the spiritual energy.
Most of the time in this kind of initiation, the guru places his right palm
filled with the grace and the spirit of God upon the head of the disciple.
Paramahamsa Sri Ramakrishna gave this touch initiation to Naren (later known as
Swami Vivekananda) by placing his foot on Naren's thigh. A tornado of light
permeated Naren's being, which tossed him into samadhi (the superconscious
state).
After a
long meditation, as per the will of God, when the guru looks at a disciple who
has prepared himself and is very eager to receive the blessings, a flood of
energy of light and love flows from the eyes of the guru into the eyes of the
disciple and the heart of the disciple fills with ineffable joy and peace, it is
called drik diksha. When Sri Ramana Maharshi, the sage of Arunachala, looked
into the eyes of Paul Brunton, Brunton had a blissful experience with the Atman,
the great Self. Ancient Masters of the Himalayas used to give such initiation to
the deserving disciples.
Initiation given just by a powerful thought to the disciple in meditation by the
guru is a unique kind of initiation. The disciple may be living thousands of
miles away, but the guru can initiate him by giving a great spiritual experience
just by a powerful thought. Sometimes the guru may write to the disciple to
prepare himself and sit in the lotus posture at a fixed time indicated by the
guru. Sometimes, the guru may even enter into the dream of the disciple and
impart the mantra to bring the awakening in the life of the disciple.
