Adhikara is a Sanskrit word that means "qualifying." Adhikara implies that one possesses the religious credentials to conduct specific ceremonial acts in any type of Hindu devotion, but especially in tantra.
- This partially relates to understanding how to carry out the rite and therefore being "qualified" in that sense.
- It also refers to having attained the ritual status that allows one to conduct the ritual.
- This position is typically granted via a formal initiation or initiations by one's instructor, who determines what kind of adhikara to transmit and how much adhikara to transfer depending on the student's skills, temperament, and willingness to learn.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
