INO Glossary: Prātibha
Prātibha (प्रातिभ) is a Sanskrit term denoting intuitive knowledge, direct perception, insight, inner illumination, or unconditioned wisdom.
In the Natha tradition, the development of this spiritual faculty enables the practitioner (Natha) to directly access and query the Divine Cosmos, receiving the knowledge sought without intermediary processes. Prātibha arises as spiritual illumination through disciplined yoga practice combined with cosmic grace. It serves as the bridge to ultimate realization, granting the ability to know all else by clearing away mental puzzles and illusions instantly.
As described in the teachings of Bhagavan Dattatreya and the lineage of the Nathas, prātibha is the real divya cakshus (divine eye or third eye), a power of illumination that increases with use and leads toward self-sufficiency in spiritual understanding.
Further reading:
- The Pathless Path to Immortality by Shri Gurudev Mahendranath
