1. Śakitpāta or Transmission of Spiritual Energy
What is known as śaktipāta in Tantra is called anugraha (grace) of God or guru in
the Bhakti and Yoga paths. An able guru can give śaktipāta to many aspirants at a
time if he or she so desires. Traditionally, śaktipāta is given to only the deserving
ones. This does not mean that those who are unfit or who are not qualified as
‘deserving ones’ will not receive the benefits of the guru’s grace or śaktipāta. The
guru’s grace is very generous, and like the rain, it falls equally on all. However,
according to their degree of fitness, some aspirants derive its benefits quickly and
completely, while others are benefited slowly and to a lesser extent.
Rain nourishes the seeds of the banyan tree and an okra plant equally. The okra
plant grows, but it will never become as big as a banyan tree, no matter how much
nourishment it receives. Likewise, the river may flow uniformly over a jug, a water
pot and a barrel, but each will be filled with water according to its capacity. This
natural limit of capacity or ability is called adhikāra (fitness).
Prāna is aroused through śaktipāta initiation, and those seekers who are already
treading the path of yoga, bhakti or jñana are more affected. This is due to the fact
that the body of an action-oriented person, the mind of a devotee, and the intellect
of the reason oriented person are well-trained. Śaktipāta also affects, to a greater
extent, those who love physical exercise, those who eat less, and those who
observe celibacy. Śaktipāta works to a lesser extent and more slowly on old
persons and those who are predominantly tāmasic (inert) or rājasic (lustful). Old
persons, women, boys and girls often begin performing asanas, mudras and
prānāyāmas spontaneously during meditation after receiving śaktipāta initiation,
and many of them even reach the stage of mūrchā (yogic swoon). The swoons
they attain are of many different types.