Shaktipat or Śaktipāta (Sanskrit, from shakti “(psychic) energy” and pāta, “to fall”) refers in Hinduism to the transmission (or conferring) of spiritual energy upon one person by another
Shaktipat can be transmitted with a sacred word or mantra, or by a look, thought or touch – the last usually to the ajna chakra or agya chakra or third eye of the recipient
Saktipat is considered an act of grace (anugraha) on the part of the guru or the divine
It cannot be imposed by force, nor can a receiver make it happen
The very consciousness of the god or guru is held to enter into the Self of the disciple, constituting an initiation into the school or the spiritual family (kula) of the guru
It is held that Shaktipat can be transmitted in person or at a distance, through an object such as a flower or fruit