Shaktipada

The word ‘Shaktipada’ is described in Agamas as transmission of energy to awaken your Kundalini Shakti and third eye.

Shaktipada is, connecting with enlightened space, Chidambara - a conscious space. In the conscious space, nothing happens as a compulsive thought pattern or unconscious flow current.

Thought or mood or ideas or incompletions, nothing moves unconsciously…. in the conscious inner space – Chidambara. If something is going on unconsciously in you without your knowledge, then it is not Chidambara. If it is pure Chidambara, it moves consciously; nothing moves unconsciously.

Connecting with the Chidambara - who already achieved that space of Sadāshivatva, who is already manifesting Sadāshiva, connecting with that Being space, is what I call Shaktipada. The first step for manifesting Shaktis is Shaktipada. - Paramahamsa Nithyananda Paramashivam

Scriptural References

On Śaktipāta (entanglement), the descent of grace

Shāstra Pramāṇa

The Kulārnava Tantra, caturdaśa ullāsa (14th chapter), Sadāshiva reveals to Devī, the glory and secrets of the power of dīkṣā, initiation from the Guru, who is Sadāśiva incarnate. He also explains about the śaktipāta.

यथा कू मः वतनयान यानमा णे पोषयेत । वेधद ोपेदेश च मानसः यात ् तथा वधः ॥ ३७ ॥ yathā kūrmaḥ svatanayāna dhyānamātreṇa poṣayeta । vedhadīkṣopedeśaśca mānasaḥ syāt tathāvidhaḥ ॥ 37 ॥

शि तपातानसुारेण श योऽन ुहमह त। य शि तन पत त त स धन जायते ॥ ३७ ॥

śaktipātānusāreṇa śiṣyo'nugrahamarhati । yatra śaktirna patati tatra siddhirna jāyate ॥ 38 ॥

Merely by remembrance on the part of the Guru, proficient in the vedha (the subtle impact), the disciple has his incompletions severed; this is highly intense initiation, tīvratarā dīkṣā. Released from external activity, the disciple falls instantly. As per the Śaktipāta , the descend of the grace from the Guru, (which is the entanglement in Oneness with him), a divine state arises in the disciple and he comes to know everything.

Āpta Pramāṇa

Paramārthsara, by Śrī Abhinavagupta, which includes a commentary on Vijñānabhairava Tantra (from Gopinath Kaviraj) gives a clear description on Śaktīpāta.

आदश मलर हते य व वदणम ् वभा त त वद अयम ् | शवशि तपात- वमले धीत वे भा त भा पः || ९ || ~परमाथस ार, ीअ भनवग ुत ādarśe malarahite yadvad vadaṇam vibhāti tadvad ayam | śivaśaktipāta-vimale dhītattve bhāti bhārūpaḥ || 9 || ~ Paramārthasāra, Śrī Abhinavgupta

As one’s face is illumined in a spotless mirror, this Lord who is the very embodiment of illumination is revealed in the faculty of illuminated intellect [dhītattva], which is spotless and pure as a result of Śāktipāta, the descent of the power of Śiva .

परमाथम ाग एनंझ ट तयदाग ुमखुातसम ये त। अ तती -शि तपातात्तदैव न व नम्एव शवः॥९६॥

paramārthamārgam enaṃ jhaṭiti yadā Gurumukhāt samabhyeti | atitīvra-śaktipātāt tadaiva nirvighnam eva śivaḥ || 96 ||

When on completely realises this supreme path quickly from the mouth of the Guru, then only, as a result of this extremely intense Śaktipāta , can one attain to Śiva alone, without any obstacles.

Mālinīvijayottara Tantra which forms the basis of Śri Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka text of the Trika school, the Āpta Pramāṇa on Śaiva Agamas, lists the qualities of advanced levels of Śaktipāta.

ल येच च नस घातं आन दा दकम आदरात ् । आन द उ भवः क पो न ा घ ू ण च प चमी ॥ ~ मा लनी वजयो र त , २.३५

lakṣyec cihnasaṅghātam ānandādikam ādarāt | ānanda udbhavaḥ kampo nidrā ghūrṇiś ca pañcamī || ~ Mālinīvijayottara Tantra, 2.35

They are the five characteristic signs and experiences which form the basis for bliss arising from Śaktipāta – bliss (ānanda), the awakening of kuṇḍalinī śakti (udbhava), shaking of the subtle body (kampa), sleep (nidrā), and whirling as the external activity [which is non-dependent on the ego] (ghūrṇi).

Āpta Pramāṇa on Shaktipāta

Siddhasiddhānta Paddhati, Śrī Gorakṣanātha, Pañcamopadeśaḥ (fifth instruction), Piṇḍa-pada-samarasa-karaṇa (merger of macrocosm and microcosm)

कथना छि तपाता वा य वा पादावलोकनात ् । सादात् वगरुोःस यक् ा यतेपरमंपदम्॥६०॥

kathanācchaktipātādvā yadvā pādāvalokanāt । prasādāt svaguroḥ samyak prāpyate paramaṃ padam ॥ 60 ॥

By the enlightening teachings (of the Guru), kathana; by the Śaktipāta, the graceful transmission of the spiritual powers (from the Guru), by looking at the sacred feet of the Guru, or by the complete loving favour of the Guru, prasād – the ultimate goal and space, p aramaṁ padam, is attained.

Śrī Abhinavagupta, Tantrasāra, Śaktipāta-prakāṣanaṁ, Ekadaśamāhinakam (Chapter 11) [chapter on science of Śaktipāta as per tantra]

Verse tatra yāvat idam uktam tat sākśāt kasyacit apavargāptaye yathoktasamgrahanītyā bhavati kasyacit vakṣyamāṇa-dīkṣāyāṃ upayogagamanāt iti dīkṣādikaṁ vaktavyam | tatra kaḥ adhikārī iti nirupāṇārtha śaktipāto vicāryte | tatra kecit āhuḥ jñānābhāvāt

ajñānamūlaḥ saṁsāraḥ tadpagame jñānodayāt śaktipāta iti teṣāṁ samyak jñānodaya eva kiṁ kṛt iti vācyaṁ karmajanyatve karmaphalvat bhogavatvaprasaṇge bhogini ca śaktipātābhuyupagatau a tiprasangaḥ īśvarecchānimitattve tu jñānodayasya anyonyāśrayatā vaiyatharyaṁ ca īśvare rāgādiprasaṇgaḥ viruddhyoḥ karmaṇoḥ sambalayoḥ anyonyapratibandhe karmasāmyaṁ tataḥ śaktipāt iti ceta na krimiktve virodhāyogāt virodhe’pi anyasya aviruddhadasya karmaṇo bhogadānaprasaṇgāt aviruddhakarmapravrattau tadaiva dehapātaprasaṇgāt jātyāyuṣpradaṁ karma na pratibadhyate bhogaruddhakarmapravṛattau tadaiva dehapāta-prasaṇgāt jātyāyuṣapradaṁ karma na pratibadhyate bhogapradameva tu pratibadhyate iti ceta kutaḥ tatkarmasadbhāve yadi śaktiḥ pateta tarhi sā bhogapradāt kiṁ vibhiyāta | atha malaparipāke śaktipātaḥ so’pi kiṁsvarupaḥ? kiṁ ca tasya nimittam? Iti etena vairāgyaṁ dharmaviṣeśo vivekaḥ satseva satprāptiḥ devapūjā ityādihetuḥ pratyukta iti bhedavādinaṁ sarvaṁ asamañjasaṁ | svatantrapararameśādvayavāde tu upapadyate etat yathāhi parameśvaraḥ svarūpācchādanakrīḍāyā paśuḥ padalo’ṇuḥ saṁpannaḥ na ca tasya deśakālasvarūpabhedavirodhaḥ tadvat svarūpasthaganavinivṛttyā svarūpapratyāpattiṁ jhaṭiti vā krameṇa vā samāśrayana śaktipāta-pātrāṁ aṇuḥ ucyate, svātantramātrasāraśca asau paramśivaḥ śakteḥ pātayitā iti nirpekṣe eva śaktipāto yaḥ svarūpa-prathāphalaḥ yastu bhogotsukasya sa karmāpekṣa eva

Here the question arises: Whom is entitled to receive Dīkṣa,initiation?Toanswerthis question, the topic of the "descent of grace' (śaktipāta) is going to be discussed. Some are of the opinion that worldly existence, which is rooted in ignorance, occurs as a result of a lack of knowledge, but when ignorance is removed upon the rise of knowledge, Śaktipāta, the descent of grace (entanglement) takes place.

However, they should explain why and how this right knowledge develops. If it is the outcome of deeds, then it would not be different from the results of actions; it would be a contingency of being an object of enjoyment. If the person who is the enjoyer (enjoying an object) is accepted as the recipient of the power, Śaktipāta, then the 'fallacy of wideness'(a tiprasaṇga)occurs.IfthewillofĪśvara,theLordissupposedtobethe cause of Śaktipāta, then the "fallacy of mutual dependence' (anyonyāśrayatā) occurs and, moreover, it serves no purpose. This theory would also entail the question of the Lord's partiality. Furthermore, it is not tenable to assume that mutually opposed actions, having equal capacity to suppress each other, could balance (past) actions in order that the descent of grace, Śaktipāta might occur. This view is not tenable because actions are sequential and therefore are unable to oppose one another.

Even if it is accepted that they might oppose each other, the question is raised as to how other actions, which are not opposing one another, bestow their results. If actions that is not contradictory to one another do not occur, then one would instantaneously drop one's body. It is not correct to say that only the actions bestowing the results of birth and life span are not suspended, and that only those acts that grant experiences of happiness and suffering remain suspended. This view is incorrect because it does not answer the question of why, even if it is assumed that the descent of grace occurs in the presence of such actions, grace is afraid of the deeds that bestow the results of experience. Furthermore, if the question of grace could be satisfactorily resolved by resorting to the theory of the ripening of impurities then the question of the nature of this theory needs to be answered, as well as the question of its cause. By this question, all possible causes, such as detachment, specific form of merit, service to righteous people, association with saintly persons, and the worship of deities stand refuted. Thus, arguments advanced by dualists are repudiated as incoherent.

According to this non-dual system of the autonomous Lord, we maintain the position that the great Lord, by way of sportful play, veils his innate nature and takes up the form of a bound being (paśu); however, there is no contradiction regarding the distinction of space, time, and his innate nature. 178 Similarly, the Lord, by removing (the freely chosen) limitations upon his innate nature, reveals himself either instantaneously or gradually to that recipient of grace called a limited knowing subject (aṇu). The great Lord is in essence autonomous, and it is He who causes śakti to descend; therefore, the descent of grace, Śaktipāta which is dependent on nothing, becomes fruitful by the realization of one's innate nature. However, for one desirous of enjoyment ( bhogotsukasya ), the descent of grace, Śaktipāta depends on his deeds. Upon one desirous of other-worldly enjoyments (lokottara-rūpabhogot-sukasya), the power of grace, Śaktipāta descends through the agency of Rudra, Viṣṇu and Brahmā, the presiding authorities functioning in the sphere of māyā, [who are] impelled only by the will of the supreme Lord.

This kind of grace yields resuIts such as the attainment of the status of mantra knowing subject (mantra-pramātā). etc., and the capacity for discrimination between [the principlesof] māyā andpuruṣa,puruṣaand kalā, puruṣaand prakrti, andp uruṣaand buddhi, and thus bars that kind of person from enjoying those fruits belonging to the lower principles. For one desirous of enjoyment and liberation, Śaktipāta, the descent of grace has to depend on rituals when it comes to enjoyments and is dependent on nothing when it comes to liberation; therefore, the descent of grace, Śaktipāta is both dependent and non-dependent.

It is not proper to ask why the Shaktipāt, descent of grace occurs only for that particular person. This is simply because the great Lord shines in that particular way

Let Kundalini Shakti drive your life

Shakti, power, can be generated in your system through 3 ways.

• 1. Verbalizations instigated excitement
• 2. Visualization instigated excitement
• 3. Kundalini instigated power.

More and more, more and more, getting comfortable with the kundalini based excitement and functioning, is Ishvaratva.

• 1. Verbalizations instigated excitement

If Verbal inspiration makes you functional, you will be a very logical person.

Doing all the logical work, you will be so excited and you will be almost settled...you are in your best.

Example: There are few people. All they need is just a microphone, you don’t even need to put volume and they don’t even need people in front of them. Just with a microphone and imagination. Enough, they are in their best. They don’t care whether the people in the front are sleeping, sitting, listening, nothing matters.

• 2. Visualization instigated excitement

If you are visualization excitement person, you will forget even your food, by painting or dancing or carving.

Decorating deities physically and taking care of the cows physically, is one of the best vatavarana, for your muscles memory and bio-memory. The best way of building muscle memory and bio-memory, when you take care of the cows.

The very bio-memory, muscle memory, DNA of the cow, awakens certain energy in you, joy, peace, completion, sacrifice. I tell you, cow worship is not the so called, ”superstitiousness,” by these liberal secular fellows. ... It’s not joke when our Shastras declare, “All the Gods and Goddesses reside in the cows,” If you just take care of them and attend to them, Deity worship, doing Alankaram to Deities and taking care of the cows, only if you practice you will understand the kind of a inner space they manifest. These 2 acts, brings certain heart and visualization based Shaktipada, much better than verbalization. - Paramahamsa Nithyananda

• 3. Kundalini instigated power.

Constantly having the kundalini shakti and spiritual strength, as the fuel moving you for every small action will be power manifestation. If you make a call, it will be a boon for him who is receiving. If you answer a question, it will be a solution for that fellow.

If morning spiritual routine makes you fresh, alive, healthy to run your whole day, then your fuel has shifted, your system has settled with the new fuel - kundalini energy. If your head is hanging down in the morning Satsang and the morning spiritual routine is making you tired, you feel, “It is making you tired whole day,” then fuel change has not yet settled. Go and serve in Goshala and do Alankaram to the Deities. That two can help you.

Do not allow the words which excites you, do not allow the visualizations which excites you - allow only the pure Oneness to excite you and push you, drive you to live your life.

Take up Deity Alankaram and Goseva, to settle down with the new fuel. These 2 are the lubrication, for the new fuel, for body to settle down with the new fuel of Kundalini Shakti.

Maximize Shaktipada with Yoga, Pancha Kriya, Satsang and AIRE

Shaktipada is literally rekindling the energy component of you and that component taking over your body and mind. People were asking, “How can I use Shaktipada to maximum? How I can get maximum benefit from Shaktipada?”

Understand. A simple thing - prepare your body through Yoga and Pancha Kriya, prepare your mind with this Vedic software, what I call “Sankhya Software” - Vedic Software with Integrity, Authenticity, Responsibility, Enriching and Causing. Drill this thought current continuously in you. Always be in the space of completion and responsibility. Prepare body through Yoga and Pancha Kriya. Prepare the mind with this Integrity thought current, Vedic software. - Paramahamsa Nithyananda

People ask Me how to get the best Shaktipada from You Swamiji?

I tell you, live or alive morning satsang is the best Shaktipada. Miss anything not morning satsang. If you don’t have time, miss breakfast nothing wrong, good for health; but not morning satsang. Miss anything not morning satsang. Celebrate Shaktipada. I tell you it is My integrity to My Guru Arunagiri Yogishwara. I will make this Sadashiva’s Consciousness, Sadashiva’s power manifestation, I will make Sadashiva’s Consciousness, Sadashiva’s powers manifesting as lifestyle for the whole humanity. Understand. I am here for that purpose. Surely I will do that to all of you. Just by Shaktipada, nothing else. Celebrate Shaktipada.

The best way to have Shaktipada is morning satsang whether live or alive. Morning satsang alone is enough to make you manifest powers. Understand I am categorically declaring, it may be live or alive, morning satsangs alone is enough for you to manifest Sadashiva’s powers and Sadashiva’s Consciousness. Everything else is help, supplement, but main course meal is morning satsang. Everything else is supplement. Morning… for you to have Shaktipada and manifest Sadashiva’s powers and Sadashiva’s Consciousness. - Paramahamsa Nithyananda

When you bring depth in your actions, simple morning Shiva Puja is enough, you will be in Shaktipada whole day and night. 7 minutes is too much time. If you are doing Shiva Puja and whole day Shaktipada is not happening, something is seriously wrong with your Depth. Look into the Depth. - Paramahamsa Nithyananda

Understand. The Sadāshivatva component of Me, started manifesting powers, only when I decided to take responsibility for the world. Thought current of responsibility. Thought current of responsibility, makes you manifest powers of Sadāshiva. Understand. I had all these powers, from the time I assumed the body, but only when I decided to take the responsibility for the world, it started manifesting. Understand. When you do Sadāshiva’s work, His hands are given to you, His energies are given to you, His powers are given to you. - Paramahamsa Nithyananda

Multiple Ways Shaktipada happens in our Life

The multiple ways, multiple ways Shaktipada happens in our life; even seeing Guru

When you see if your lips and eyes become big, big, Shaktipada is happening. When your two eyes are not enough, when your two eyes are opening wide and not able to catch the Master’s form, your Third Eye is opened as a gift. The energy enters through two eyes, hits the Third eye and it is opened. If you are not able to contain the joy and the mouth is wide open, the energy enters, touches the heart and opens that. Energy goes through the eyes, opens Third eye. Energy goes through the mouth, opens the heart.

And I tell you automatically your breathing pattern will change; because your breathing pattern is the remote control for your neurological functions. Your whole neurological functioning is controlled by your breathing pattern. Your breathing pattern is your remote control for your neurological activities. The moment you see the master, see the Guru, in His presence you will see the breathing pattern automatically changes because He is operating the remote.

Understand. Whenever your eyes open wide, breathing pattern changes, mouth opens wide, ears start deeply listening, you are having Shaktipada.

Sadashiva beautifully describes, eyes opening wide to drink His form, mouth opening wide because uncontainable joy, breathing pattern changing, ears getting into the listening space, skin experiencing goose bumps, all these are the clear definition that you are having Shaktipada.

Whether you see Him, remember Him, celebrate Him, dance with Him, eat with Him, live around Him or in the modern days, getting a ‘like’ from Him, ALL, ALL, ALL…. ALL this is Shaktipada.

Guru’s presence

in VedaAgama Saiva Sampradayas, Physical Presence of the Guru is not only required, it is mandatory for highest enlightenment to manifest through you. Celebrating Shaktipada is Hinduism

Just few days before I read Sadashiva’s instruction; beautiful instruction in Agama – You do not need to work or worry even to convince yourself that ‘you are Sadashiva,’ Shaktipada is capable enough to convince you, you are Sadashiva. Actually you don’t need to work, worry ‘oh I have to convince myself I am Sadashiva’. It can never happen. That’s another one thing. You can never convince yourself. Fortunately, Sadashiva does not expect that. He does not expect you need to convince yourself that you are Sadashiva, only then He will manifest His powers through you. No!

He says, ‘have Shaktipada. Let the powers manifest; automatically, your doubts will disappear.’

He is not even saying you will be convinced. Your doubts will become irrelevant. As I said after eleven and half months, I did not know who I was. He just possessed Me. Such an amazing way. I did not know who I was. I was not able to remember who I was. Fortunately, I don’t need to, I did not need to remember who I was. It was such an amazing sweet way of forgetting myself; making Myself irrelevant to Me, making Myself redundant to My life. Shaktipada does that. - Paramahamsa Nithyananda

References

http://nithyananda.org/video/first-step-power-manifesting-shaktipata-connecting-conscious-space#gsc.tab=0 http://nithyananda.org/video/maximize-shaktipata-prepare-yoga-pancha-kriya-and-vedic-software#gsc.tab=0 http://www.nithyananda.org/video/kundalini-fuel-run-your-life#gsc.tab=0 http://nithyananda.org/video/manifesting-powers-will-be-lifestyle-through-shaktipada-initiation-2017-mahashivaratri-message#gsc.tab=0 http://www.nithyananda.org/video/bring-depth-your-actions-experience-sadāshivatva-living-sadāshivoham-process-session-10#gsc.tab=0 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1nCsYn3xJkvRnZBZXdfeHYwT2c/view http://www.nithyananda.org/article/what-third-eye-awakening#gsc.tab=0