Part 4 - Nine-fold grace of Śiva

Śiva creates Gurus and Śiṣyas through His fifth act (anugraha) the act of grace. This grace (Śaktipāta) is nine-fold creation of Gurus and disciples.

1) Tīvratīvra Śaktipāta

First and highest level of grace is called Tīvratīvra Śaktipāta (Super Supreme Grace) bestowed by Śiva leads one to perfectly recognized state of Self. By this kind of intense grace he knows his real nature completely and in perfection and unable to resist it by his body and he condemns his body and is dead. He being not visible in this world, becomes a Guru, however, accomplishing the act of his mastery secretly in the hearts of deserving disciples, who experience his subtle existence.

2) Tīvramadhya Śaktipāta

Second intensity of grace is called Tīvramadhya Śaktipāta (Supreme Medium Grace). By this intensity of grace of Śiva, though the recipient becomes completely and perfectly illumined, he does not leave his body. He is said to be a Pratibhā guru, who is self-made guru without any initiation by another guru. He experiences spontaneous enlightenment. Pratibhāguru lives in this world with his physical body for the upliftment of mankind.

3) Tīvramanda Śaktipāta

Third intensity of grace is called Tīvramanda Śaktipāta (Inferior Supreme Grace).One who receives this grace, desires to go to the feet of a spiritual guru. The guru thus found by him, has received the second intensity of grace, Tīvramadhya Śaktipāta. This guru is perfect and all knowing. There is no difference between this guru and Śiva. This guru does not initiate him, but with simple touch with his divine hand, or gaze, or embrace, makes this disciple who is a recipient of medium supreme grace, to transcend individuality perfectly and enter into that supreme transcendental state without the need of practicing japa (recitation) or dhyāna (contemplation), etc. Although he still experiences pleasure and pain in his physical body it does not affect him as his being has become supreme. The guru who has received this intensity of grace known as Rudra Śakti-samāveśa: is called Rudra Śakti-samāviṣṭa: because he has completely entered into the trance of Rudra Śakti, the energy of Śiva. He exhibits five signs which can be observed by others. The first sign is his intense love for Śiva. The second sign is (mantrasiddhi) i.e., whenever he recites any mantra the devatā (deity) of that mantra appears to him at once without his having to wait. The third sign is his control over the five elements. The fourth sign is that whatever work he begins he completes it without defect. The fifth sign is that either he is a master of all the scriptures or he becomes a great poet.

These three supreme intensities of grace of Śiva, create gurus in the kingdom of spirituality^[1]. Lesser intensities of grace of Śiva create deserving disciples.

4) Madhyatīvra Śaktipāta

Fourth intensity of grace is called Madhyatīvra Śaktipāta (Medium Supreme Grace). By this intensity of grace the disciple reaches the feet of that guru who is absolutely perfect. But because the foundation established in the mind of this disciple is not quite completely perfect, the mere touch or glance of this perfect guru will not bring this disciple to enlightenment. He, therefore, initiates this disciple in the proper manner by giving him a mantra and teaching him the proper way of treading. Through this initiation this disciple becomes enlightened^[2], however, he is not completely satisfied with this enlightenment during the period of the existence of his physical body. At the time of his death while leaving his physical body, due to the earlier initiation received, he obtains completely satisfactory results and becomes one with Śiva.

5) Madhyamādhya Śaktipāta

Fifth intensity of grace is alled Madhyamādhya Śaktipāta (Medium Middle Grace). When Śiva bestows this particular intensity of grace upon someone, the intense desire for achieving the existence of Śiva arises in this person’s mind. He does not want to enjoy worldly pleasure along with wanting to realize the existence of Śiva. Yet the intensity of his desire is only for achieving Śiva’s state. So, though he is initiated by a guru and realizes his Real nature as Śiva, his Real Self, and enjoys the bliss of that state while remaining in his physical body, simultaneously he also enjoys the pleasures of the world.As these worldly pleasures, which take place in this mortal field of the universe, are not real pleasures, he at the time of his leaving his physical body enters into the Kingdom of Paradise (svargaloka) and enjoys all the pleasures to his entire satisfaction. After he has satisfied his desire for worldly pleasures he does not come down again into this world but is again initiated by his guru,who is all pervading, remaining in heaven. Through this initiation he becomes complete and realizes the reality of his Supreme Nature and from heaven itself he enters into the Kingdom of Śiva and merges in Him completely.

6) Madhyamānda Śaktipāta

Sixth intensity of grace is called Madhyamānda Śaktipāta (Medium Inferior Grace). The effect of this grace is similar to the effect of Medium MiddleGrace but for the difference in premodinance. The effect of Medium Middle Grace is that in the mind of the disciple arises both the desire for attaining the State of Śiva and the desire for experiencing worldly pleasures, however, the predominant desire is for attaining the State of Śiva. The effect of Medium Inferior Grace is also that in the mind of this disciple arises both the desire for attaining the State of Śiva and the desire for experiencing worldly pleasures, however, the predominant desire here is for experiencing worldly pleasures. Though he achieves Self Realization it is not complete because of the agitation he experiences for seeking worldly pleasures. So at the time of his leaving his physical body this intensity of grace carries him from this mortal world first to paradise where he enjoys the pleasures of the world. While in paradise, however, he does not gain the fitness to begin practicing for attaining the realization of his Self. He must, therefore, be again reborn and come down into this mortal field. And from that very birth he sentences his mind toward the fulfillment of his Self realization. Although his life in this mortal realm is very short as Śiva wants to carry him quickly to His own State, yet he becomes absolutely complete in that short span of time and enters, in the end, into the Transcendental state of Śiva.

The above three medium intensities of grace take place in the field of aspirants living in the kingdom of Śivadharma. Those aspirants living in this field of Śivadharma have the tendency for achieving the state of Self Realization at least half hourly during the day and at least twice during the night. The remaining period they keep aside for worldly pleasures.

7-9) Mandatīvra, Manda Madhya, Manda Manda Śaktipāta

The following three inferior intensities of grace, Mandatīvra (Inferior Supreme), Manda Madhya (Inferior Medium), and Manda manda (Inferior Inferior), take place in the field of aspirants living in the kingdom of lokadharma, the kingdom of worldly life. These aspirants have the desire for achieving the state of Śiva, Self-realization, only when the pains and pressures of this world become too much to bear. At that moment they want to abandon everything and achieve Self realization, however, they are not able to and though they want to leave this worldly life they can not leave. These aspirants have more tendency for worldly pleasure and less tendency for realizing their Self. But, as the grace of Śiva shines on them, in the end, which may take many lifetimes, they become one with the Supreme Being. This is the greatness of Śiva’s grace that in no matter what intensity His grace is with you it will carry you in the end to His Nature.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

[Cidgaganacandrikā] Verse 9.

[2]:

[Cidgaganacandrikā] Verse 186.