Deeksha

Sri Madhwacharya has emphasized the need for every Vaishnava to undertake ‘deeksha’ so he leads a life consummate with the requirements of spiritual pursuit. While the word deeksha is generally interpreted as the initiation or consecration into a practice, in Sanatana Dharma, the word deeksha is much more than that. It is an undertaking by an individual to engage in a sustained pursuit of a particular goal. The goal of a Vaishnava deeksha is obviously to pursue the path of bhakti at the feet of Sri Vishnu, and to increase knowledge of his greatness.

In more than one work of his, Sri Madhwacharya has emphasized the importance of deeksha. His Sadachara Smriti, Tantra Sara Sangraha and Krishnamruta Maharnava granthas talk elaborately about the constituents of such deeksha. In the Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya, he reveals how only those people who displayed signs of Vaishnava deeksha on their body were allowed to reside in Dwaraka. Thus, undertaking of deeksha is an important instruction provided by Srimadanandatirtha Bhagavatpada.

One of the richest sources of information about Vaishnava deeksha is from the ‘Vishnu Rahasya’ grantha. This book is an encyclopedia on matters related to Shrutis and Smritis and specifically on Vishnu bhakti and aradhana. It has been quoted in more than one work of Sri Madhwacharya, thereby rendering it a ‘pramana grantha’ for us.

Let us look at Vishnu Rahasya to learn a little more about Vishnu deeksha.

The seventh chapter of this grantha talks exclusively about the types of deeksha, the ones who are eligible to undertake it, benefits of doing so, and the method of obtaining the same.

In order to set the ground for the topic of deeksha, Vishnu Rahasya says Shrutis and Tantras (Smritis) are both equally important for every Sadhaka. All those who are eligible worship the Supreme Personality using both the Vedas as well as the Tantras.

यथायोग्यततयाSन्ये च यथा ज्ञानं च तेsखिलाः |
आराधयन्ति ते वै मां तन्त्रैर्नानास्वरूपिणम् ||

“All the others (apart from Devatas) worship me, the One with multiple forms, as per their knowledge and capabilities using the Tantras”
For such practices, clearly the adhikara for Vedas is required and the adhikara for the other Tantras is required. The samskaras such as Upanayana bring the necessary adhikara to an individual for studying and worshipping through the Vedas. On the other hand, the process of obtaining eligibility to worship Mahavishnu using the Smritis and Tantras is known as ‘deeksha’.

उपनीताः द्विजाः सर्वे वेदेष्वधिकृताः मताः |
तन्त्रेषु दीक्षिता एव प्रोच्यन्ते ह्यधिकारिणः ||

“It is said that those Dvijas who undergo the Upanayana samskara are eligible for the study of the Vedas. On the other hand, for the Tantras (performing pujas etc using Pancharatra, Smritis) it is said that the obtaining of Deeksha is needed”

Deeksha is of two types – bahya and antara – external and internal. Vishnu Rahasya says for a less knowledgeable or ignorant person, bahya deeksha is needed. However, for a truly knowledgeable person – a jnani – both bahya and antara deeksha is mandatory!

Vishnu Rahasya gives an excellent definition of what constitutes bahya and antara deeksha.

अयं सर्वेष्टदाता मे सर्वानिष्टनिवारकाः |
सर्वोत्क्रुष्टोयमेवैकस्तदीयोहं स मे पतिः |
इतिज्ञानं निश्चितं यत् सा दीक्षाभ्यन्तरा मता ||

“The firm knowledge and belief that Sri Vishnu is the one who grants all, he is the one who resolves all my ills, he is the Supreme Being, that there is none equal to or greater than him, that I am his eternal servant and he is my master – this constitutes antara deeksha”

नामचिह्नादिना देहे वह्निना वा म्रुदाङ्कनम् |
सा बाह्या प्रोच्यते दीक्षा ह्यज्ञानां ज्ञानिनानपि |
शिशवः पशवोन्नानि पात्राण्याभरणानि च ||

“Putting on the name and his signs (such as Chakra etc) on one’s body, through tapta mudra and also through mruttika (such as gopi-chandana) and identifying oneself thus constitutes bahya deeksha”

Thus, the constant remembrance and surrender of one’s mind to Sri Vishnu is antara deeksha and bearing his signs on the body to indicate the surrender of the body is bahya deeksha.

Being under bahya deeksha facilitates control of indriyas and aids the cleansing of the antah-karana (chitta, manas, buddhi) while antara deeksha facilitates acquisition of jnana. The two deekshas together take an individual forward on the path of spiritual enlightenment and finally, with the grace of Sri Vishnu, moksha can be attained.

Vishnu Rahasya gives such an exalted status to a person who is under deeksha that it declares such a person to be verily an idol of Vishnu himself!

तप्तचक्रं भुजे यस्य विप्रादेर्यस्य कस्य वा |
विष्णोरेव हि सा मूर्तिर्नावमन्येत कर्हिचित् ||

“A person who bears the signs of tapta-chakra on his body, be it a Brahmana or anyone else, is verily the murthy of Vishnu himself. Such a person should never be insulted”.

A person who displays the insignia of Vishnu’s weapons and ornaments is to be treated just like a murthy in a temple or home, and accorded the same reverence. This is because such a person’s body is cleansed due to the tapta-mudradharana and hence the presence, or sannidhana, of Sri Vishnu and other Devatas in him is very high. Worshipping such an individual causes great joy to Vishnu and his family of Devatas.

On the other hand, even if a person is born in a Brahmana family and has learnt all the Shastras, he becomes unfit for daana and other hospitalities if he has not undertaken the Vaishnava deeksha.

The grantha also gives details about when and how to receive such a deeksha. It says that the months of Ashada, Kartika, Magha, Vaishakha and Margashira are the best ones to receive deeksha. On the harivasara tithis such as Dashami, Ekadashi, on auspicious days of the week such as Budhavara or Guruvara, and on nakshatras such as Shravana, the deeksha must be undertaken. If the deeksha is received in a Tirthakshetra and on special days such as eclipses, more auspicious benefits will accrue.

Vishnu deeksha must be received from one’s own father or from the kula guru. Let us all resolve to undertake both bahya and antara deeksha in our lives and dedicate all of our activities in the service of Sri Vishnu.

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