Shaktipat Initiation

In ‘Shaktipat’ initiation, Guru by his own power awakens the kundalini of the seeker.

The awakening of Kundalini marks the initiation of seeker into Siddha Yoga.

In the Master-disciple (Guru-Shishya) tradition, initiation is a rule. Among all types of initiations, ‘Shaktipat’ initiation is the best.

Shaktipat initation is done by any of the following four ways:

  • By Touch
  • By a Divine Word (Mantra)
  • By Sight
  • By Resolve

Shaktipat Diksha explained by Gurudev Siyag

In Siddha Yoga also known as ‘Mahayoga’, the Guru awakens the Kundalini of the disciple by his power through ‘Shaktipat’ initiation. While explaining about Guru it has been said that He awakens the existing but dormant power ‘Kundalini’ within the disciple and makes the disciple worthy of experiencing GOD.

Shaktipat initation is done by any of the following four ways:

  • By Touch
    A Siddha(empowered) Guru flows his power into the seeker by touching at the Third Eye spot, heart centre and at the base of the spinal column at ‘Mooladhaar’ in this initiation.

  • By a Divine Word (Mantra)
    The power of the Guru flows into the seeker through a ‘Mantra’. The initiation ‘Mantra’ that is given by the Guru has already been chanted by the Guru for a long period of time. There is no difference between that Mantra and the Guru. When the Guru gives initiation by such an empowered Mantra, it gives liberation.

Gurudev Siyag initiates a seeker into Siddha Yoga by a divine mantra known as ‘Sanjeevani Mantra’
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  • By Sight
    Initiation given by merely looking into the eyes of the seeker to awaken the Kundalini. Indian Spiritual literature is replete with anecdotes about various Siddha gurus awakening the Kundalini of their disciples by merely looking at them.

  • By Resolve
    This is an initiation in which just by making up the mind about getting initiated from a particular Guru, the seeker gets initiated. But such kind of disciples are very few. From this, Ekalvaya’s spiritual practice proves to be true.

“As long as the Kundalini is dormant within the body, the behaviour of man is like an animal. He is incapable of having knowledge about the Supreme Power even though he might be doing thousands of Yogic practices.”

Questions:

  • What happens when by the grace of the Guru the Kundalini is awakened through ‘Shaktipat’ initiation?

    It has been said in “Swatmaram, Hathyoga Pradipika-3,2” that once the Kundalini is awakened by the grace of the Guru then all the chakras and the granthis ( Brahmgranthi, Vishnugranthi, and Rudragranthi) are pierced. This way the seeker attains the state of samadhi- a state of ‘samatva bodh’. The moment ‘Shaktipat’ happens, the seeker starts experiencing different types of automatic yogic kriyas like asan(body postures), bandh(locks), mudras(gestures) and pranayam (regulation of breath) according to his past life karmas. The Guru has full command over the awakened kundalini by which he controls and regulates its speed.


    The Kundalini is called Universal Mother in our scriptures. It is the divine light of that Supreme Power which is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. The seeker whose Kundalini gets awakened is able to directly experience and realize unlimited past, present and future events. According to our scriptures till the Kundalini of a man gets awakened and reaches ‘Sahasrara’ liberation is not attained. Union of the earth element (Prithvi tattva) with the space element (Akash tattva) is salvation and attainment of ‘Kaivalyapad’.

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