8.11 DHEEKAI(DHEEKSHA)=EASTERN PSYCHOTHERAPY (தீக்கை)

The term dheekkai denotes the position, honor, grading, guidance and therapy given to the devotees by the guru. It depends upon the sadhana he has performed in the  pursuit of the god.

Psychotherapy is defined as a method of treatment aimed at relieving psychological distress, modifying patterns of behavior and personality, using psychological principles after establishing deliberate professional contract by a qualified therapist  on the individual  with psychological problems or diagnosis.

When we see dheekai and psychotherapy together they are almost the same- except certain verbatim and in semantics.

They both have a method, therapist, a distressed client, classification, contract and goals. This has been recognized by Indian psychologists for long periods. The guru-chela relationship is same as therapist-client relationship.

The dheekai philosophy and practice is (more or less) in this line only.There are three forms of primary classification of dheekai :

a)SAMAYA DHEEKAI:  given to the individual who has excelled in sarya acts

b)VISEDA (விசேட)DHEEKAI: given to the person who has excelled in kiriyai and yogam.

c)NIRVANA (நிர்வாண)DHEEKAI: given to a person who has excelled in gnana acts.

According to the degree of their performances of the actions on the axis of the  disciplines they have in NITHYAM,NAIMITHIGAM AND KAMIAM..

i.NITHIYAM: (நித்தியம்)daily rituals

ii.NAIMITHIGAM: (நைமித்திகம்)various annual functions and rituals

iii.KAMIGAM:(காமிகம்) special poojas for specific goals.

1. A person who performs all the three disciplines is called as ACHARYA.(ஆச்சார்யா)

2.People who do the nithya and naimithiha dheekai are graded as UTHAMAR(உத்தமர்)

3.Persons who can do only nithya are classified as MATHIMAR(மத்திமர்)

4.Persons who cannot do any of these are called ADHAMAR.(அதமர்)

The uthamar and mathimar are eligible for ANGI DHEEKAI (அங்கி-தீக்கை). It involves fire rituals.The people who are in the adhamar category are fit for ANGA DHEEKAI by the guru.(அங்க’தீக்கை)

This dheekai are six types. They are

1.NAYANAM (நயன) DHEEKAI:  given by the eye contact

2.PARISA (பரிச)DHEEKAI: given by the touch

3.VASAGA (வாசக)DHEEKAI: giving the mantra

4.MANASA (மானச)DHEEKAI: established by mental rapport

5.SATHIRA (சாத்திர)DHEEKAI: teaching the agama

6.YOGA (யோக)DHEEKAI: teaching the yoga

The dheekais have further intricate classifications. Each dheekai then becomes specific for each soul.

The soul classification and avathai diagnosis are done prior to these. Each person gets dheekai according to his avathai (distress), sadhana and thathva  manifestations. The dheekai are similar to modern psycho-analytic psychotherapies.

The guru plays a role analogous to a  doctor. The doctor and the guru have to be responsible for the client or a devotee in the letter and spirit  in both of their cases. They both do the same function to the society.