Guru Diksha , Anugraha, Guruvakya and Gurukilli
A. Shabdadiksha (Initiation through words)
B. Sparshadiksha (Initiation by touch)
C. Darshandiksha by the Guru
D. Drukdiksha (Initiation by a look)
When Bhagawan Raman Maharshi wished to bestow a devotee with initiation by vision, He would fix His gaze on him for some time. Consequently, desires and worldly turmoil in the devotee’s mind would disappear. Some devotees would feel the flow of electric current in the body, while others would experience radiant peace spreading in their bodies.
One devotee has described Bhagawan’s look as follows : “Bhagawan suddenly turned His radiant eyes towards me. Earlier, I was unable to stare at His eyes for a long period. But this time, I am unable to say for how long I continued to stare at His extremely powerful and radiant eyes. During this time, with the current of His vision I could hear the vibrations that were created in my body”.
E. Tirthadiksha
F. Patradiksha
G. Sankalpadiksha
Anugraha
‘अभीष्टसम्पादनेच्छारूपः प्रसादः ।’, meaning, obtaining the desired prasad (Blessings) for the desirable object (God) is itself an initiation (according to the Nyayakosha). The Guru is God and God is the Guru. The grace of God itself is an initiation. In all sects, great importance is attached to the grace of God which appears in the form of an initiation. In the Shrimadbhagawadgita, Shrikrushṇa has explained the importance of initiation in the following words – ‘मत्प्रसादादवाप्नोति शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम् ।’ (Adhyaya 18, Shloka 56); meaning, my devotee acquires the eternal, imperishable abode with my grace (Initiation). All sects that follow the Bhaktimarg (Path of Devotion) believe that by intense devotion one can acquire God’s grace, that is, His initiation, and can attain ultimate emancipation.
According to Shri Vallabhacharya, Pushtimarg (Path of Evolution) is synonymous with Bhaktimarg. He has referred to evolution as initiation.