Experiencing the Impact of Siddha Yoga

The effect of meditating under this form of yoga differs from practitioner to practitioner. Beginners find it difficult initially to hold their wandering mind on to one spot and focus on Guru Siyag’s form. Sounds around the spot where a practitioner is meditating – honking of cars in traffic outside, songs blaring out of TV/radio sets or noisy machines working in the neighborhood, those present around conversing loudly, wind rattling the windowpanes or rain drumming on the roof, etc.- can easily detract the meditating person. Greater distraction is caused by waves of thoughts constantly crashing through mind. However, a practitioner needs to go on practicing patiently without getting upset or losing hope. He will soon realize that his concentration is improving very fast. External sounds or thoughts begin to give way to a new calm. Some then begin to see the image of Guru Siyag or other divine entities during meditation. As the practitioner progresses on the path of meditation, he gradually reaches the stage when he can achieve Samadhi, a trance-like state. Samadhi is an important milestone in yoga as it prepares the practitioner to begin to feel and perceive subtle forces active in the universe around us. And here begins what Master Yogi Sri Aurobindo has described as “Adventure of Consciousness.”
Deep meditation not only leads to purification of body and mind, but it also opens up new vistas of consciousness. The practitioner begins to realize that there are several planes of existence outside our physical existence. Although we don’t realize it, these subtle planes of conscious impact us in various ways. There is also a visible or tangible impact of Siddha Yoga on practitioner’s body and mind in many cases. Many practitioners experience automatic yogic exercises or body movements such as swaying, bending forward or backward, nodding of head, rapid swinging of head from one end to another, inflating or deflating of belly, uncoordinated movements of hands, prostrating on the floor, clapping, laughing or crying. Some perform gestures of prayers to God during meditation. Some others experience the presence of divine bright lights, scents or sound and visions and revelations, in which they can witness the events that have taken place in the past or those that are destined happen in the future.
A beginner sometimes panics when he/she experiences some of these automatic yogic movements, thinking that something has either gone wrong or he/she has been ‘seized’ by some unseen force. But these fears are unfounded. In fact these Yogic Kriyas or body movements are ordained by the divine force and are specifically unique to each practitioner like a custom-made program. This is because the divine force that is at work here through Guru’s spiritual powers knows exactly which specific postures the practitioner needs to undergo to rid himself of body and mind ailments, and to progress on the spiritual path. The yogic postures under the Siddha Yoga are therefore not standardized nor are they orchestrated willfully like those in a conventional Yoga school. The practitioner can neither start nor stop these Yogic Kriyas willfully. None of these body movements will ever cause any bodily or mental harm. However, if a practitioner is too scared to continue the experience, he can simply pray to Guru Siyag to stop these movements. The prayer will immediately result in stopping of these movements.

An unattached observer watching people participate in group meditation under the Siddha Yoga is often astonished to notice that almost each participant undergoes different yogic postures. The automatic body movements may seem strange and somewhat alarming to an observer. However, most practitioners undergoing these movements experience a sense of exhilaration and joy during meditation that they had never experienced before.

How Siddha Yoga works

According to ancient Indian scriptures called Vedas, human body is a gross form of the divine Absolute whom we call God by various names. The feminine half of the Absolute is known as Shakti, a potent cosmic energy force. This force lies dormant in human body at the base of the spinal column. It lies coiled around the spinal base in three and half spirals like a sleeping coiled snake. It is therefore known as ‘Kundalini’, the coiled one.

Within human body exists on a subtle plane a network of Nadis / veins, connected to six Chakras or energy hubs, placed at regular intervals above one another from the base of the spinal column up to the Thyroid Gland in the throat. These Chakras exist in a vertical nerve called Sushmana which runs parallel to the spinal column and rises right up to the crown of the head. The tip of this crown is known as Sahasrahara, which is the dwelling of God.

If and when Kundalini is awakened, she surges upward to meet her lord in Sahasrahara. During her journey upward, she passes through each of the six Chakras along the way, which in turn activate and electrify the entire network of Nadis. This entire structure of Chakras and Nadis, vibrating and pulsating with the cosmic energy force, purifies each and every pore and cell in the body, resulting in internal cleansing and healing of ailments and diseases. With the piercing of each Chakra by rising Kundalini, the person experiencing this amazing play of the cosmic force, begins to develop special spiritual powers called Siddhis. These Siddhis enable him to look into the past and future events, but above all help him to understand the true nature of his own self, and to realize God. The self-realization takes place when the feminine divine meets her male counterpart after completing her upward journey.

However, Kundalini cannot be awakened by merely reading yoga books or by following a yoga trainer’s instructions. The very central purpose of Yoga is to promote spiritual evolution of human race. Therefore, only a spiritual master like Guru Siyag, who has attained the highest level of spiritual consciousness himself, can awaken the dormant Kundalini force.

Guru Siyag awakens the seeker’s Kundalini by initiating him/her into Siddha Yoga as his disciple through a process called Shaktipat. During initiation, known as Diksha in yogic terms, Shakti, the feminine divine, is activated through a Mantra, a Divine Word, given by Guru Siyag. Mantra represents the primal sound through which the universe is believed have come into existence.

The disciple is required to repeat the mantra silently all the time (without moving his tongue just as one reads a book silently without moving the tongue and lips) while carrying on his routine chores. The Mantra acts as a trigger that prods the sleeping ‘Kundalini’ awake and then sends it surging upwards.

The silent repetition of the mantra is called Naam Jap. After continuous chanting of the mantra for over a fortnight or a month, the disciple doesn’t have to make an effort to chant; the chanting happens automatically on its own whether he/she is awake or sleeping. This state is known as ‘Ajapajap’ (roughly translated as involuntary chanting). When chanting of Mantra is accompanied by regular meditation, preferably for 15 minutes each, early in the morning and evening, it slowly unleashes a wave of ‘Ananda’ (bliss), which is so soothing that the disciple feels he/she is on a high, and doesn’t want to come out of it. Indian saints have described this state of Ananda as intoxication without drugs. The Ananda brought on by the Mantra and mediation is incomparable to the calming effect of any addictive drug because it (Ananda) doesn’t depend on any external inducement and lasts forever. This is the reason why a disciple initiated into Siddha Yoga by a Siddha (Empowered) Guru is freed from drug-addiction completely and irrevocably.

A unique aspect of Siddha Yoga is that a spiritual seeker need not necessarily have theoretical knowledge of Yoga system or Vedic philosophy to be Guru Siyag’s disciple. All a seeker needs is an intense desire and willingness to submit himself to Guru Siyag to qualify for his blessings and guidance.

The term ‘Automatic’ denotes another most unique aspect of Siddha Yoga. Once a person becomes Guru Siyag’s disciple — through Diksha or by practicing the Siddha Yoga meditation with Gurudev’s photograph, without being initiated — both get connected spiritually on a subtle plane. Even if time and distance separate them, the spiritual connection remains strong and subtle. Through his unique spiritual power, Guru Siyag maintains a benevolent watch over each of his disciples for his wellbeing, no matter if the disciple happens to be living in a far-off place in India or half way across the world in a different time zone. Thus Guru Siyag leads the disciple to self-realization or realization of God safely through the human existence, which is full of pitfalls, sorrows and attachments. However, this divine realization can be achieved only through complete surrender to the Guru; it cannot be gained through the use of money, manipulation, stealth, deception or intimidation.

How to practice Siddha Yoga

A person who has formally become Guru Siyag’s disciple through a Diskha program is required to practice the Siddha Yoga regularly, preferably daily. The daily practice includes constant and silent chanting of divine mantra and a 15 minute meditation session. The chanting of the mantra can be done at all times of the day and while performing various activities: while working, studying, driving, in the bathroom etc.
A practitioner can meditate at home or any other place he/she finds suitable for meditation. For a beginner, a quiet spot where meditation is not likely to be interrupted would be ideal. He/she should meditate daily in the early in the morning and evening or at any time that is suitable or convenient. Meditation should be accompanied by silent chanting of mantra. Since meditation is to be done with closed eyes, beginners usually worry about overshooting the 15-minute time-limit and delaying their daily routine. However, they should know that Siddha Yoga works with a divine help, which ensures that the meditation lasts only until the time limit mentally set by the practitioner before commencing meditation. So no need to set up an alarm-clock here.
Chanting of the ‘Mantra’ is the key to successful practice of Siddha Yoga. Meditation helps in relieving stress, stabilizing and focusing mind on the divine form of Guru Siyag for concentration, and turning the gaze inwards for introspection. So meditation creates the supportive mental condition for the Mantra to work. It is the Mantra which acts as a trigger to awaken the sleeping ‘Kundalini’, the divine cosmic force, in the practitioner’s body. The awakened ‘Kundalini Force’ gradually cleanses the body, mind and soul of the practitioner, and puts him on the path of highest spiritual transformation.
Beginners also worry about being able to sustain the efforts to chant the Mantra. However, they should know that sincere and concerted efforts for this purpose are needed only for a short while. The chanting of Mantra becomes automatic when it is repeated continuously over a certain period of time. This however depends directly on the degree of intensity, faith and sincerity with which the chanting is done. In some cases the chanting becomes automatic just over a week while some other cases it takes a fortnight or even few months. The practitioner is strongly advised not to give up if he/she finds the progress to be slow. He/she will eventually catch up.
Siddha Yoga is very simple to practice for anyone who is interested in it. No previous knowledge or experience of yoga is necessary; no special tools, aids, dress code and/or the presence of a yoga instructor are required; no rituals are required to be performed.
No practitioner of Siddha Yoga is required to give up his religious belief or change his life-style and dietary habits. All that is required of a practitioner is complete faith and devotion to Guru Siyag to achieve good health and spiritual progress.
NOTE: Those persons, who for some reason cannot attend the Siddha Yoga initiation programs, can practice Siddha Yoga at home. Read more about this meditation technique in ‘Siddha Yoga Meditation’.

How to get initiated into Siddha Yoga

Guru Siyag initiates people into Siddha Yoga through a Diksha (initiation) program. The process of initiation is called Shaktipat, which means awakening of Shakti, the feminine divine Kundalini or the cosmic energy force in the seeker by the Guru.
Diksha programs are organized by Guru Siyag’s spiritual organization Adhyatma Vigyan Satsang Kendra (AVSK) only on Thursdays in a city or town where Guru Siyag is camping at a given time. The initiation is done en masse for a large public gathering. However, in exceptional cases or for foreign nationals who require translation from Hindi to English, initiation is done individually in a private session.
A typical Diksha program consists of the following standard procedure:
The program starts with a brief, 10-minute, introduction about Guru Siyag by an AVSK volunteer, who also explains briefly Siddha Yoga and AVSK’s activities. Over the next hour, Guru Siyag briefly outlines Vedic philosophy on which Siddha Yoga is based. At the close of this presentation, he gives the participants a ‘Secret Divine Mantra’ and briefs them how to meditate daily. Guru Siyag’s presentation is followed by a 15-minute meditation session for all the participants present. Once the interested person participates in Diksha program and receives the divine Mantra, he/she formally becomes Guru Siyag’s disciple and is initiated into Siddha Yoga. For an interested person to avail of Siddha Yoga’s benefits fully for his/her entire life time, he/she needs to meet Guru Siyag at least once and get initiated formally. This is because Siddha Yoga works only through the traditional Indian system of establishing a Guru-Disciple spiritual bond.
The ‘Divine Mantra’ given by Guru Siyag is Secret. DO NOT reveal the Secret Mantra to anyone even if the person happens to be your close relation such as husband, wife, child or parent. Although the Mantra is given in an open public session, divine law restricts the practitioner from passing it on to others or saying it loudly. Violation of this code renders the mantra ineffective, and the erring practitioner cannot hope to benefit from the practice of Siddha Yoga during his entire life time nor does he/she receive blessings and Grace of Gurudev.
All the Diksha programs are conducted entirely in Hindi as Guru Siyag speaks only in Hindi. However, AVSK volunteers act as interpreters/ translators for Guru Siyag when foreign nationals participate in Diksha programs. A Diksha program typically lasts for an hour. There is no dress code for the participants in the Diksha programs, which are open to all irrespective of their gender, age, color, race, religion or nationality.
NOTE: Those who cannot travel to meet Guru Siyag due to acute illness or any other compelling reasons can also practice avail Siddha Yoga and thus avail His blessings. They should download Guru Siyag’s photo from this website and meditate on his form with sincere silent prayers. If they follow this routine regularly for a fortnight, they will soon notice a significant improvement in their health or their circumstances turning positive enough to enable them to make the trip to meet Guru Siyag.

siddh-yoga for kundlini jagaran

Countless people living stress-filled lives in big cities and smaller towns around the world constantly look for a panacea that can help them get rid of stress and ailments they suffer when modern medicine is of no help. Others are in earnest search of eternal truth and God. Many of these people take to yoga to reach their intended goals. Their enthusiasm however begins to wane after a short while because most of them soon discover that the daily regimen of yoga workouts isn’t easy to sustain for long; either due to lack of time or irregular hours of work. That apart, various yogic asanas (postures) — twists and contortions of body — aren’t easy to perform for most people. In fact, in most cases it is not advisable to initially perform yogic postures without the watchful eye of a guru or a yoga trainer. Joining a yoga studio could be expensive or impracticable for those who are hard pressed for time. Does this mean that yoga isn’t for ordinary folks, who have neither time nor resources to access systematic yoga training? Ordinarily, the answer would be, “Yes, Yoga isn’t practicable for all.”
However, a highly evolved spiritual master, can make the practice of yoga much simpler and easy to follow and effective for his disciples by using his own spiritual powers. Guru being one such Master, helps his disciples avail of the best of yoga benefits through his Siddha Yoga without their having to go through the rigors of training and workouts at home or in the gyms. Under Siddha Yoga, all an interested person is required to do is to get initiated by Guru and the rest is easy to follow.
Guru initiates a seeker as his disciple by giving him/her a mantra — a divine word — to chant silently and shows him/her how to meditate every day. The daily meditation is to be accompanied by chanting of the mantra. The chanting of the mantra becomes automatic when it is repeated constantly over a certain period of time. This however depends directly on the degree of intensity, faith and sincerity with which the chanting is done. In some cases the chanting becomes automatic just over a week while some other cases it takes a fortnight or even a few months. Besides chanting of the Mantra, the disciple is also required to meditate briefly — for about 15 minutes at a time — for instance, in the morning and evening.
As the initiated person begins to progress on the Siddha Yoga path, he/she soon feels stress-free, feels their concentration has improved and thoughts have become more positive. During meditation, many practitioners experience yogic postures and body movements happening automatically. The practitioner can neither start, stop nor control these yogic Kriyas (body movements) willfully. These Kriyas are specifically unique to each practitioner like a custom-made program. This is because the divine force that is at work here through Guru Siyag’s spiritual powers knows exactly which specific postures the practitioner needs to undergo to rid himself of body and mind ailments, and to progress on the spiritual path. The yogic postures under the Siddha Yoga are therefore not standardized nor are they orchestrated willfully like those in a conventional yoga school. An observer watching people participate in group meditation under the Siddha Yoga is often astonished to notice that almost each participant undergoes different yogic postures. Most practitioners also experience a sense of exhilaration and joy during meditation that they had never experienced before. As the Yogic Kriyas happen automatically, Guru,s Yoga is known as ‘Siddha Yoga’.
A practitioner of Siddha Yoga begins to notice positive and evident changes when he/she has practiced meditation regularly over a period of time. The effect of chronic ailments and diseases begins to wear off to a point where the practitioner feels he/she is completely freed from pain and suffering that have dogged him for years. Siddha Yoga has the same positive impact on people, who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, etc or those, who suffer varying degrees of mental problems such as schizophrenia, Phobias, etc. If healthy, a practitioner progresses faster on the spiritual path, making him/her realize his/her true self and the purpose of why he/she is here on earth, and how he/she can actually realize God. Faith and dedication to Guru Siyag is the key to achieve effective results from the practice of Siddha Yoga. Guru ’s Yoga is open to all irrespective of their color, race, religion, nationality, gender or age.