Deeksha, or spiritual initiation, denotes your desire to follow the spiritual path shown by a guru with faith and surrender. In Sanatana Dharma, receiving initiation from a guru is considered a gift from Goddess Sarasvati.
Durga Saptashati, a revered Sri Vidya scripture, states that Goddess Sarasvati is the penultimate form we worship before proceeding to Sri Devi, the Formless Divine or Divine Energy. Invoking her grace, I now discuss my seven levels of initiation, which roughly correlate to the seven aspects of enlightenment.
Acceptance Level 0: The Om Tag
Everyone I accept to initiate receives the Om tag. Om is now your spiritual last name, indicating that you are a Dvija, a person born twice. In other words, you are about to start a spiritual journey that will transform you from the inside out, almost making you a new person.
- Enlightenment Aspect: None
- Example: If your name is Uma, you will become Uma Om.
Curriculum / Task List:
Level 0: The Om Tag (12 downloads )Initiation Level 1: A Spiritual Name
The first level sets the foundation for a spiritually rich life. It requires paying attention to and caring for your body: self-care, grooming, and physical fitness. In Sri Vidya, your body is seen as the vehicle of the divine, so self-care becomes imperative. If you accomplish this level, I will give you a spiritual name to further emphasize that you are a Dvija.
- Enlightenment Aspect: Self-Improvement
- Example: Uma Om will become Devi Om.
Curriculum / Task List:
Level 1: A Spiritual Name (9 downloads )Initiation Level 2: Yogi-Yogini-Yogin
You will now cleanse your mind, promote self-healing, develop self-discipline, and prioritize your emotional well-being. You will practice Karma Yoga alongside various self-improvement techniques to build a renewed sense of self-confidence.
- Enlightenment Aspect: Karma Yoga
- Example: Yogini Devi Om or Yogi Harihar Om
Curriculum / Task List:
Level 2: Yogin Titles (10 downloads )Initiation Level 3: Tapasvi-Tapasvini-Tapasvin
Building on self-improvement and Karma Yoga, the third level represents the attainment of mindfulness. When we begin to see a difference in ourselves while we pursue mindfulness or have a lapse, we are functioning in a heightened state of awareness. This is spiritual awakening, a significant stage in a person’s spiritual life.
- Enlightenment Aspect: Spiritual Awakening
- Example: Tapasvini Devi Om or Tapasvi Harihar Om
Curriculum / Task List:
Level 3: Tapasvin Titles (11 downloads )Initiation Level 4: Brahmachari-Sushree-Brahmacharin
Mindfulness alone does not guarantee virtuous conduct. That’s where Brahmacharya, or Divine Conduct, steps in. Spiritual aspirants learn to channel their mindfulness to eliminate negativities such as anger, greed, and lust. Moreover, they overcome many layers of fear.
- Enlightenment Aspect: Brahmacharya
- Example: Sushree Devi Om or Brahmachari Harihar Om
Curriculum / Task List:
Level 4: Brahmacharya Titles (9 downloads )Initiation Level 5: Sri Prefix or Ananda Suffix
The crux of this stage is liberation from desires and, thereby, from rebirth. Achieving Sannyasa Mukti means being free from all desires to ensure no rebirth. You will be reborn even if you have one small desire. So, overcoming your wants is essential in spirituality.
Women who overcome desires get the prefix of Sri, and men get the suffix of Ananda.
- Enlightenment Aspect: Sannyasa Mukti (Liberation)
- Example: Sushree Sri Devi Om or Brahmachari Hariharananda Om
- Curriculum / Task List: Personalized
Initiation Level 6: Swami-Sadhvi-Sadhu
Sannyasa Moksha, or non-attachment, is the key to spiritual joy. Consequently, Moksha, which means joy in Sanskrit, denotes non-attachment.
Further, people at this level develop a greater awareness of themselves. This includes recognizing your behavioral patterns, strengths, weaknesses, inclinations, spiritual truths, etc. With this self-realization, inner peace dawns on us, making us a Stitha Pragna—the one established in wisdom (Zen mindset).
- Enlightenment Aspect: Sannyasa Moksha, Stitha Pragna
- Example: Sadhvi Sri Devi Om or Swami Hariharananda Om.
- Curriculum / Task List: Personalized
Expert Level 1: Spiritual Mentor or Author or Leader
Those who received my Level 6 Initiation are done with their spiritual journey. They can move on to do whatever they wish or continue their journey to train as spiritual authors, mentors, or leaders.
- Enlightenment Aspect: None
- Example: Sadhvi Sri Devi Om or Swami Hariharananda Om
- Curriculum / Task List: Self-Defined With Guidance
Expert Level 2: Chaitanya-Chinmayi or Bhairav-Bhairavi
A few people may pursue Yogic Samadhi to delve deeper into advanced spiritual practices. However, this step must be taken cautiously because this endeavor could sometimes last lifetimes.
Initiation Level 7: If you reach a significant milestone here, you will get the titles of Chaitanya or Bhairav for men and Chinmayi or Bhairavi for women.
- Enlightenment Aspect: Yogic Samadhi
- Example: Bhairavi Sri Devi Om or Chaitanya Hariharananda Om
- Curriculum / Task List: Self-Defined With Guidance
Expert Level 3: Spiritual Guru
Those who have completed expert levels 1 and 2 can train to be spiritual gurus. Gurus can keep or drop their names and titles as they wish.
- Enlightenment Aspect: None
- Example: As you wish!
- Curriculum / Task List: Be your own guru!
So those are the seven levels of initiation on my spiritual path. Not all can reach the expert levels, but many of you have the potential to attain spiritual mukti and moksha. Believe in something—yourself, your guru, or the divine—and you can surely reach unimaginable heights. All the very best to you!
Love,
Sri Devi Om
