The SIDDHA YOGA - Initiation

There are two disciplines of this Yoga

(a)  ABHAVA YOGA
(b)  MAHA YOGA

In the first discipline of the Abhava Yoga, the perception of the soul can be achieved by contemplating on the soul as formless and shapeless as stated in the vedic scriptures.
    In the second discipline, that of MAHA YOGA, the seeker merges himself into the joyful (ecstatic) state of samadhi (trance) through the practice of meditation.

The modes of Initiation:

The awakening (arousing) of an aspirant's Serpent Power (Kundalini) is called an initiation, SHAKTIPAT Deeksha or Wedha Deeksha. SHAKTIPAT = (transmission of Spiritual power) is a process. It takes place when a Spiritual master activates the Serpent Power of an aspirant by his grace. This transmission of power takes place by the touch or by the glance of the Spiritual master. The Spiritual master may ask an aspirant a holy name or any mantra having few syllables for chanting, in this way the Spiritual master may initiate an aspirant to rouse his Serpent Power (Kundalini). The Spiritual master can also initiate an aspirant by his will i.e. he can transmit his Spiritual power into an aspirant, who has full faith in his master by his "will". In all these four ways, the transmission of Spiritual power by the "will" of the Spiritual master is the basic principle and the rest of the three are its modes of transfer. The Spiritual master at his will employs any one or two or all the three modes of initiation.

An amazing example of an initiation:

Spiritual aspirants are initiated by a Spiritual master in his presence by glance (sight), touch, word (mantra) or by his will power. If a disciple (aspirant) having faith in his Spiritual master is far away from his Spiritual master and who by some reason is unable to see him personally can be initiated by the will-power of his master, by fixing a date and time of initiation through a letter or even by fax-message. Recently in one example the Spiritual master initiated an aspirant by sending a fax message to him and the initiated aspirant had an astounding experience. It has been noticed that some aspirants get initiated simply by their participation in the Spiritual congregation of meditation, some receive initiation even by reading the books on the SIDDHA YOGA.

Types of Disciples:

     Three types of disciples can be recognised according to the manner of their receptivity.

(1)  Those aspirants after initiation, from the beginning require more time to have the experience of the ascent of the awakened Serpent Power (Kundalini shakti), are 'slow-paced' seekers.
(2) Those who have good experiences initially, but later on whose progress is slow, are 'medium-paced seekers'.
(3) Those, who as soon as initiated, get the best experiences are considered to be the 'best seekers'.

Initiation – There are three ways of Transmission of Spiritual Power:

These ways of initiation can be explained by citing an illustrative example: suppose there is a sweet and ripe fruit at the top of a tree. To enjoy the taste of the fruit:

(1)  An ant slowly comes to the trunk of the tree, slowly marches forward to the branch of a tree and enjoys the taste of the fruit. This way is known as the Ants-path (pipilika-marg).
(2)  A monkey jumps from a tree, comes from a distance to this branch of the tree and directly starts enjoying the fruit. This way is known as the 'Monkey-path' (markat-marg).
(3)  A bird flying in the sky directly pecks at the fruit with its beak and start eating. This way is known as the 'birds'-path' (vihangam-marg).
The path of the SIDDHA YOGA which SAINT SHRI JNANESHWAR MAHARAJ experienced and advocated, is this 'vihangam-marg' (birds' path).      

Authorisation for imparting initiation  (Spiritual Power):
(Samya and A-Samya Deeksha):

As stated above, there are four methods of initiation: by touch, sight (glance), word and will of the Spiritual master. The authorisation of imparting initiation can be classified as mentioned below in their ways of initiation:

(a) Authority possessing the power of transmission to initiate others is known as Samya Deeksha.
(b)  Authority that does not possess the power of transmission is known as A-Samya-Deesha. Each way of Initiation has two differences which are explained below:

(i) (a)  Initiation through 'touch': 
Just as one oil-lamp kindles up any oiled wick the moment it touches it, in the same way, the disciples who have been authorised by their masters can transmit (impart) the same powers into other aspirants. Such disciples can be considered as transmitters of Spiritual powers and they can continue the tradition of their Spiritual master.

(b) By the touch of a philosopher's stone, iron turns into gold, but the transmuted gold does not have the capacity to transform other iron pieces into gold. It means that by the grace of a Spiritual master though the disciple has attained his life's goal of God-realisation, he does not have ability to transmit his powers into other aspirants (unless authorised by his Spiritual master). These are the two differences in the way of initiation by 'touch'.

 (ii)  Initiation through 'word' (mantra):

     (a)  A young cuckoo hears the voice of its mother and gains its own voice. After some period of time the grown up young-ones has the power of awakening the same voice within its own young-ones who are listening to her voice.
     (b)  A peacock is delighted to hear the thundering sound of clouds but it cannot delight other peacocks by its voice.
A Spiritual master initiates deserving disciple through word (mantra) and makes him feel satisfied for achieving his life's goal and further he may by a special favour make the disciple an initiator who can transmit his Spiritual powers through word (mantra) and thus continue the tradition of his master.

     (iii) Initiation through 'glance' (sight):
An example of the tortoise is worth studying for the purpose of understanding initiation by glance.

(a) A tortoise nourishes its young-ones simply by keeping an eye over them. A tortoise nourishes its young-ones by mere concentration of its sight and the young-ones get from it the same nourishing power which awakens in it later on when it is needed for the purpose.

• The Greek Partridges are delighted to see the moon-beams, but they themselves cannot delight others of their own kind. 

     (iv)  Initiation through 'will':

(a) The fish nourishes its young-ones by the concentration of will. The former gives that power to its young-ones. The young ones later on, when grown up can also nourish their young-one by will-power. This occurs (happens) only through the 'God-graced' will-power.

(b) A juggler may create towns, trees, roads and wells; but these objects do not have power to create other objects by will.

It should be borne in mind that it is only by the grace of God or of the Spiritual master that the initiated are empowered to transmit the Spiritual power into others. Such transmission by the unauthorised will harm the doer and the receiver too.

Ideal places for Initiation:

Ideal places which are acknowledged to be good for initiation are a hermitage, a cow-stall, the house of a Spiritual master, a worshiping place in one's own house, a dense forest, a holy place, a garden and the bank of a river. In the same way, initiation can take place near a bilva-tree, on the top of a mountain, in a cave, on the bank of a river Ganges and at the place and time specified (dictated) by the Spiritual master. The statement of a Spiritual master is as good as a vedic command.

Amazing and automatic Experiences after initiation:

Some of the signs and symptoms of the awakened Serpent Power (Kundalini) are given below. They are illustrative but are not exhaustive.

(a) When throbbing (vibration) at the base of the spinal column (mooladhara) begins, when the whole body starts shaking, involuntary breathlessness starts beyond control, when breath is forcibly exhaled out, without volition (self efforts),, when deep inhaling and exhaling of breath starts and the body gets uncontrollable, know that their Divine Power (Bhagawati Kundalini Shakti) has awakened and has become active. You should then give up your self-assertive approach and sit witnessing what happens.

(b) Your posture may becomes fixed, Udiyan,  Jalandhar and Moolbandhas come involuntarily, the whole body becomes so active and energetic that you are unable to sit quietly.

(c) Your posture-Asana (seat) may becomes fixed (steady) and sight is attracted towards the middle point of eyebrows, when you get automatic kewal-kumbhak, cessation of breath with no effort for inhaling or exhaling and the mind becomes vacant, void of all outward knowledge.

(d) You may feel currents of the Life Force (Prana) rise from Mooladhara upward to Cerebrum (Sahasrara) within you, automatic repetition of 'Aum' starts and the mind experiences waves after waves of blissful ecstasy (joy).

(e) You may feel that the bodily existence for the time-being is lost (suspended) and you feel as if there is no body, everything looks vacant, your eyelids remain slightly closed and in spite of your efforts they do not open, and electric-like currents seem flowing up and down the nerves, which give you immense joy.

(f) You may close your eyes and decide to sit for meditation, and your body begins to feel a pleasant sensation (happiness).

(g) All day and night you may feel within your body some kind of activity of the Life Force (Prana) is going on and whenever you concentrate your mind, your mind becomes filled with joy and bliss at all times and even during the sleep you feel currents of Life Force (Prana) rising up in your Sahasrara and even in dreams you experience her presence.

(h) When as soon as you sit for meditation, your body begins to shake in ecstasy of joy, you involuntarily utter words and speak language not known to you, and yet sound gives you joy, sometimes you begin to sing hymns in tones of charming music whose composition and poetry come out involuntarily, your hands also give rhythmical clapping, know that the Goddess of Speech Saraswati-Kundalini (Divine Power) has come into action.

(i) While walking when your mind is filled with an impulse to walk faster, and you do not feel fatigued even though you have walked a long distance; you feel buoyant and joyful, in all ups and downs of life your balance of mind is not disturbed. No work is difficult for you, know that Brahma Shakti Kundalini (Divine Power) Kundalini has come into action.

(j) When in meditation you may see divine visions, have divine fragrance (smell), feel divine tastes, hear divine sounds and experience divine touch and receive instructions from Gods.

(k) When in your meditation, the future unfolds its secrets to you, the hidden meaning of scriptures, vedas and vedantas shine on your understanding, all doubts vanish, you acquire an insight into the hidden meaning of the works on Spiritual science even at their first glance. You acquire strange powers of oratory, for knowledge, you acquire self-confidence, understand that Divine Power (Kundalini), the bestower of occult powers, has come into action.

(l) While in meditation, if you think of any Spiritual experience, you see your subtle body, and you are not conscious about the time, know that Divine Power (Kundalini) – (Chitshakti) has come into action.

 (m) When you sit for meditation, your mind gets concentrated, you can talk with the Gods and Goddesses who can prescribe medicines for a disease, or they can give a Divine Mantra to remove difficulty (obstacles in progress) and when you receive Spiritual knowledge or guidance or advice from a siddha, know that the Divine Power (Kundalini) has come into action.

The special instructions for the initiated:

What kind of experiences are possible and to whom they are assigned is decided (determined) by the Serpent Power (Kundalini), that is by the will of the Spiritual master. Each and every individual gets different experiences. The initiated has to simply watch whatsoever divine experiences come to his lot. An aspirant may receive Spiritual experience on the day of initiation or even some days later. The initiated should not communicate his experiences to anybody except to his Spiritual master.

How can you know what type of Spiritual experiences you will receive, unless you are initiated? Really speaking, getting the above stated experiences is a great wonder of the Spiritual world. In the science of yoga it is a top secret.

If the seeker has been initiated by another Spiritual master.....

According to the Spiritual discipline, if an aspirant has been once initiated, it is not considered proper for him to be initiated by another Spiritual master with the same motive. But having taken permission from the former Spiritual master, there would be no difficulty in being initiated again by another Spiritual master for his Spiritual progress and for achieving the desired goal. Lord Shri Dattatreya had derived lessons from twenty-four masters. Having learnt and studied these special lessons from them, he acquired certain virtues. Thus if one cannot accomplish (attain) his goal, through initiation by a former Spiritual master, re-initiation is considered acceptable in Spiritual discipline. The succeeding Spiritual master should be honoured; with the same respect as the former one, in the new form; identifying the successor with the former and with full faith will prove beneficial. The Spiritual practices assigned by the former Spiritual master should not be forsaken but should be continued with honour.

In all yogic practices the awakening of the Divine Power (Kundalini Shakti) is fundamental and obligatory, for attaining perfection. With the permission of the former Spiritual master the initiated can be re-initiated into the SIDDHA YOGA. But if the former Spiritual master  does not permit a seeker to go in for (to take for) another initiation, then in that case the seeker should bear in mind that his Spiritual goal can only be achieved by the grace of his former Spiritual master. It should be taken as the last word.

The SIDDHA YOGA is useful to all sects, traditions, paths, organizations and ideologies.

In the present time ideologies which currently activate and lead to social awakening, will also find this path of Spiritual awakening useful. SAINT SHRI JNANESHWAR MAHARAJ, the foremost exponent of the traditional path of devotion, known as Warkari-Sect, has spread the doctrines of SIDDHA YOGA. He himself was initiated into this path of SIDDHA YOGA by the grace of his elder brother Shri Nivruttinath and got his Divine Power (Kundalini) awakened. He has explicitly elucidated (made clear) the path of SIDDHA YOGA in his book called JNANESWARI (Bhavartha Dipika) which is the critical appreciation of the BHAGWAT GEETA. The sixth chapter of the Geeta offers us the knowledge pertaining to the SIDDHA YOGA. This easiest path of SIDDHA YOGA has been upheld by SHRI JNANESHWAR MAHARAJ. He states in his book:

"Is there any path so simple as this path of yoga"? (Ch.6-363).
In this way he inspires people to follow it by bringing out the simplicity of this yoga. It is my sincere request to all the Spiritual pilgrims of different sects and traditions and to all those who are engaged in national awakening and the work of national uplift. To them, this path of SIDDHA YOGA will be useful.

General Rules to be observed by the initiated:

(a) An aspirant should have an intense desire to obtain direct Spiritual experiences described in Shrimad BHAGAWAT GEETA and an implicit faith in the advice of the Spiritual master.

(b) Before being initiated, he should obtain the permission from his elders and parents and in case of husband and wife, they should have taken each other's consent for initiation. An aspirant should firmly believe in the fact that he is a part and parcel of the all pervading Spirit (Chaitanya), (God).

(c) An aspirant should determine to abstain from consumption of wine, non-vegetarian food, eggs, onions, garlic, tobacco, gutka, ganja etc.
(d) In the house of an initiated, ladies should not mediate.

(e) An initiated should devote one hour every day for Spiritual practice (meditation)

(f) Initiation into this path of SIDDHA YOGA, is open to all, irrespective of their caste, creed, sect, community, religion age and sex.

(g) The initiated should try to attend the group meditation whenever conducted at the centre.

Those who have resolved to observe (follow) the above rules may pray for initiation into this SIDDHA YOGA (MAHA YOGA) by sending a prayer-letter in the form given below or meet the Spiritual master personally with a prayer-letter.

A form of a prayer-letter for the Initiation:

     Respected and Revered Sir,

            I sincerely pray to you, Sir, kindly bestow on me your grace and initiate me into this path of the SIDDHA YOGA, praised by the ancient sages and upheld in the BHAGWAT GEETA as the supreme path for self-realisation.

I have read all the rules related to this path and I shall follow them sincerely.

Name in full:

Date of Birth:

Full Address                                          

      Desirous of your Grace,

Yours sincerely,

                                                                                           Signature
Date :

Eligibility for the Initiation:

An eligibility test is conducted before giving admission to a student into any educational institution; the eligibility criteria for entering into the path of SIDDHA YOGA are:-

(a)  An aspirant should have an intense desire to worship Life Force (Prana)

(b)  He should have firmly resolved to observe all the rules laid down in this path.

(c) He should make a sincere and humble prayer to the Spiritual master for initiation.

            All these are quite essential requirements for an aspirant.

The Rituals to be performed by an aspirant on the day of Initiation:

(a) On the day of initiation, before the appointed time of initiation, an aspirant should get up early, perform his morning routine, take a bath, perform his daily rituals, such as the worship of his own deity and the family deity, or any other rituals which he thinks necessary.

(b) He should bow down at the feet of his parents and elder brother and obtain their blessings. A wife should bow down to her husband.

(c) He should garland his own deity (favourite), offer a watery coconut with its fibrous end towards the deity (God) and offer some money as a token of offerings to the Spiritual master.

(d) He should spread a woolen carpet or a carpet of thick cloth, covered with a piece of clean white cloth and he should be all alone in the room.

(e) An aspirant should preferably put on loose garments, sit in the middle of the room, on a carpet facing the East or the North, and leaving equal distance on either side of his carpet (seat). He should sit in such a way that the place of his Deity (God) should be either on his left or right side, but it should not (never) be at his back side. At the allotted time of initiation, he should close his eyes and contemplate on the image of the Spiritual master.

(g) Initially he should inhale breath speedily and exhale slowly seven to eight times.

(h) Afterwards he should relax his body completely and watch automatic natural breathing (slow and fast) and should keep himself free from voluntary actions.

(i)  He should concentrate his mind on automatic breathing.

(j)  Physical movements arising from within should be given absolute freedom.

(k) In this way keeping his eyes closed he should devote one hour or move for meditation.

(l)   After the meditation, when the eyes get automatically opened, he should bow down to his Deity (God) and break the coconut and distribute pieces to all the members of the family.

N.B.:  Special Instructions:

     (i)    During the meditation keep your eyes closed.

    (ii)    For convenience, you can change the physical posture during the meditation.

   (iii)    In this way after performing the meditation every day, by the end of the month,  an aspirant should submit a report of his Spiritual progress to the Spiritual master. There is no need of offering garland and coconut every day.

   (iv)    One should not sit for meditation after the meal at least for four hours. You can have your meal ten minutes after the meditation.

    (v)    One should not narrate one's experiences to others without the permission of the Spiritual master.

    (vi)  All the doors and windows of the meditation room should be closed. You can keep a lamp with dim light.

   (vii)   The Spiritual progress will be faster if the meditation is performed at the meditation centre of the SIDDHA YOGA.

Obligatory rituals to be performed by the initiated:

The rituals as advocated by the scriptures of the respective religion, should be performed along with the Siddha yoga meditation.(15)    Solutions to the doubts and difficulties of the initiated:

(a) After the initiation, an aspirant undergoes certain experiences by means of which Spiritual progress is achieved further through his enthusiasm. But after some time, he may feel that there is a no perceptible progress and hence he is not persistent in his daily Spiritual practice (meditation). In fact, once the activated Divine Power (Kundalini) continues her upward march in a gross or a subtle way, till she attains perfection - becomes one with the Lord (Shiva). Hence, without getting despaired and keeping full faith in the power transmitted by the Spiritual master and relying on the earlier experiences as the testimony of the real path, he should continue his meditation with greater zeal and enthusiasm.

(b)  Many aspirants say, "we simply sit for meditation, but we don't get any sort of experiences, therefore we don't have any incentive for performing meditation". Just as during the monsoon the sky is over cast (covered) by clouds which obstruct our sight of the sun. The powerful actions of the past and the present deeds hamper out Spiritual progress and the gross Spiritual experiences apparently seem to recede. It should be borne in mind that as soon as the sun-covering clouds over the sky get dispersed, the rays of the sun of self-consciousness (individual soul) will be visible and the presence of the activated Serpent Power (Divine Power) will be felt in a gross or subtle form.

(c) The other important thing is that this lamp of knowledge kindled by the Spiritual master is not experienced clearly for some time due to some reasons; but in course of time its light will again definitely be experienced by the aspirant leading him to his life's goal. This eternal truth should be borne in mind by the aspirant. Sometimes, aspirants get despaired for he does not have any experience, for a long time. In that case whatever the Spiritual master says is the ultimate authority and there the activity called luminosity (tranquil state of mind) will take place.

This aspiration of achieving the self-realisation in this very life should always be kept in mind. He should always be enthusiastic in Spiritual practice.

(d) It is observed that as aspirants do not have complete knowledge about the expected experiences, they are unable to comprehend their own experiences which come up from the awakened Serpent Power (Divine Power) which indicate signs of their Spiritual progress. In one case, an initiated got up after half an hour from his meditation, as if woken up from deep slumber but later on he came to know that it was an involuntary experience of yogic trance (yoga-nidra), or of Manonmani stage.

(e)  Obstacles in the Spiritual practice:

By any means if there is any obstacle in the Spiritual practice or if any error is committed by an aspirant, the fire of yoga (yogagni) and the persistent regular practice (meditation) will remove the obstacle and will wipe out the effects of an error. Examples of such obstacles and errors are;

• Irregular in-take of diet (food),
• Indifference towards the daily Spiritual practice (meditation) due to laziness,
• Negligence in the Spiritual practice,
• Having doubts about the ultimate goal of realization,
• Non-performance of the regular practice of meditation,
• Excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures,
• Confused state of mind,
• Dissatisfaction over the (due to) setback in Spiritual progress.

An aspirant may say, "I do not witness any good Spiritual experiences now, as I had earlier". Such a mental state and all the above mentioned obstacles may obstruct the Spiritual progress. SAINT Shri Tukaram Maharaj advises the aspirants in the following verses:  

"whatever may happen, whether the body perishes or lasts, my faith in Divine Power (God-Pandurang) will remain steadfast".

It is the best remedy over all obstacles. An aspirant, firm in his devotion will attain his final goal of realisation. SAINT SHRI JNANESHWAR MAHARAJ in the 18th chapter of his book 'JNANESWARI' advises the aspirant that (verse no.1799):

"Even after having obtained perfection, the realised should worship the primeval all pervading God constantly, that means he should continue his Spiritual practice constantly even after realisation (ch.18, 1799)".

Total faith in the Spiritual master will definitely dissolve all the obstacles in the path of the Spiritual practice.

(f)  An easy way for the progress of the Spiritual practice:

Before the meditation, the practice of deep breathing will be useful for the Spiritual progress. Deep breathing should be performed eight or ten times, if necessary more times. Inhaling of breath quickly through both nostrils, holding it for sometimes and exhaling it slowly or the practice of rapid inhalation and exhalation (Bhasrika) will definitely enhance the Spiritual progress.
(g)  Eradication of the past imprints: Uprooting of the past (imprints) impressions:

The impressions of the past deeds (sins) will slowly wipe off when Spiritual practice is regularly continued after the awakening of the Serpent Power (Divine Power).
(h)  Assurance of Definite Success in self-realisation - (perfection) :

It is true that even if an aspirant has the lowest Spiritual capability or even if he is involved in worldly pleasures, he will surely one day, sooner or later reach the highest state of perfection, as his Spiritual power, is awakened. The speed of the Spiritual progress may be less than the aspirant who follows the rules or has better spiritual capability at the time of initiation.
Aspirants should always bear in mind this inspiring message which promises success in the efforts. The regular practice of meditation is the only means to the final success.

Observation of Rules for speedy and rapid progress:

After the initiation, having awakened the Serpent Power the Spiritual master establishes a link between the aspirant and the Divine Power in the form of the Universal Mother and then the responsibility of observing the rules rests on aspirants. However the Spiritual master often gives necessary suggestions to follow certain rules to protect him. The Divine Mother also warns the aspirant in various ways against his non-observance of rules and also at times punishes him suitably. Hence for their own interest (well-being) disciples should follow the rules recommended by the scriptures. In case, if any aspirant suffers from any consequential punishment, he should know that it is due to disobedience of the commands of his Spiritual master. Without being despaired, an aspirant with a prayer for absolution of the faults committed should continue his Spiritual practice.