Here is the quote that will start it off:
QUOTE
"The manner in which Bhaktivinoda regards the conferment of the siddha-deha is according to the emotional and psychological makeup of the sadhaka.* In contrast, David Haberman mentions two theories that illustrate how the siddha-deha is traditionally received. He calls on the 'inherent theory' and the other the 'assigned theory.'+ According to the 'inherent theory' every jiva already has an existing eternal siddha-deha. During initiation, the guru 'sees' the initiate's eternal identity in lila by meditation and reveals this true identity to the sadhaka, who then begins the practice of raganuga-bhakti and eventually discovers for himself the reality of his eternal identity.
"According to the 'assigned theory' the guru assigns the appropriate siddha-deha to the initiate. The siddha-dehas are like 'shiny new cars,' as Haberman quotes one modern commentator, that are assigned to the appropriate candidate according to the design of God through the mystic pereption of the guru. In both theories, numerous inspiring stories abound to prove and illustrate how the sadhaka receives his actual inner form. I, like David Haberman, heard many of these amazing and mystical anecdotes."
- Hindu Encounter with Modernity, Shukavak N. Das, p228-229.
* In fact the paddhatis do not describe how siddha-pranali is given. The only indications that Dhyanacandra makes in this regard occur when he uses the terms "guru-prasada-janani" (vs. 87, p.28) "born from the mercy of Guru" and "guru-dattam" (vs. 108, p.32) "given by the guru." It seems that the paddhatis only describe how the sadhaka meditates, not how he gets siddha-pranali.
+ David L. Haberman, Acting as a Way of Salvation (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 119-121
"According to the 'assigned theory' the guru assigns the appropriate siddha-deha to the initiate. The siddha-dehas are like 'shiny new cars,' as Haberman quotes one modern commentator, that are assigned to the appropriate candidate according to the design of God through the mystic pereption of the guru. In both theories, numerous inspiring stories abound to prove and illustrate how the sadhaka receives his actual inner form. I, like David Haberman, heard many of these amazing and mystical anecdotes."
- Hindu Encounter with Modernity, Shukavak N. Das, p228-229.
* In fact the paddhatis do not describe how siddha-pranali is given. The only indications that Dhyanacandra makes in this regard occur when he uses the terms "guru-prasada-janani" (vs. 87, p.28) "born from the mercy of Guru" and "guru-dattam" (vs. 108, p.32) "given by the guru." It seems that the paddhatis only describe how the sadhaka meditates, not how he gets siddha-pranali.
+ David L. Haberman, Acting as a Way of Salvation (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 119-121