Among those devoted to Swami Muktananda, he was regarded first and foremost as a fully realized spiritual master, a Sadguru who had attained complete Self-realization. His followers saw him not merely as a skilled teacher of yoga, but as a perfected being whose realization conferred a unique spiritual authority. Within this devotional vision, he was viewed as a vessel of divine grace, an embodiment of the divine principle or inner Self, and thus worthy of profound reverence and surrender. His role as a lineage-holder, continuing the stream of an ancient tradition received from his own guru, further reinforced this perception of him as a legitimate and powerful guide on the path to liberation.

A central aspect of how he was perceived lay in the belief that he possessed the capacity to awaken the dormant kundalini energy in seekers through shaktipat. Disciples attributed to him the ability to transmit spiritual awakening through his touch, gaze, or even mere presence, and many described transformative inner experiences as arising from this contact. In this light, he was seen as a source of extraordinary spiritual power, with the potential to catalyze profound meditative states, inner visions, and sudden shifts in consciousness. For many, he functioned as the key to their own spiritual progress, rather than simply an instructor of techniques.

Devotees also related to him in deeply personal terms, often describing him as a compassionate father figure and strict yet caring guide. His presence became the focal point of their devotional life, with his words and actions treated as carrying deep spiritual significance. Practices such as chanting, meditation on his form, and dedicated service in his ashrams were understood as direct expressions of devotion to him and vehicles for receiving his grace. His physical presence, photographs, and remembrance were regarded as spiritually charged, capable of bestowing blessings and sustaining an ongoing inner connection.

In sum, his followers tended to see him as a divinely empowered, fully enlightened guru whose life and work stood at the heart of their spiritual journey. He was honored as a world teacher and bearer of a sacred lineage, a master of yoga and a source of unconditional love and wisdom. For those drawn to him, surrender to his guidance and immersion in his presence were not peripheral, but essential elements of the path to Self-realization and direct experience of the divine within.