Chapter 18 of 23 · Kailasa Samhita · Overall chapter 383 of 464
Initiating a Shishya
Vamadeva asks how a self-realised mendicant formally becomes a guru in turn; Skanda answers with the detailed yogapatta consecration procedure - elaborate mandala and pot-worship, an abhisheka with jewel-infused water, and the whispered transmission of the 'Hamsa' formula - performed specifically for a young disciple.
Shounaka asked
Hearing the essence of Vedanta, the supremely wonderful secret, what did Vamadeva ask Maheshvara's son next? Yogi Vamadeva is blessed, always devoted to knowledge of Shiva. This divine, supremely purifying account is about him.
Vyasa said
Hearing the sage's loving words, learned Suta, whose mind was devoted to Shiva, was pleased and replied.
Suta answered
You are blessed, devoted to Mahadeva and doers of good to the worlds. Sages, listen again to the conversation between the two. Hearing Mahesha's son's words, which destroyed notions of duality and gave rise to non-dual knowledge, the great sage was satisfied. He bowed and praised Kartikeya, Shiva's son, with many hymns, and humbly asked him again about the tattvas.
Vamadeva said
Illustrious one, you know the truth of everything, Shanmukha, ocean of amrita. How can a mendicant who has cleansed his self become a guru, following whom living beings gain enjoyment, liberation and siddhi? But there must be a lineage, without which there is no right to teach. What are the rules for bathing before the shaving rites? Lord, tell me of this and dispel my doubts.
Suta said
Hearing Vamadeva, Kartikeya remembered Shiva and Shivaa in his mind and began to speak.
Shri Subrahmanya answered
I will tell you of the yogapatta, through which one gains the status of a guru, a great secret that gives liberation. Vamadeva, out of affection I will tell you. In the months of Vaishakha, Shravana, Ashvina, Kartika, Margashirsha or Magha, on an auspicious day in the bright fortnight, or on the fifth or full moon, a person does the morning rites. With his guru's permission he controls his mind and bathes, cleans his bed and discards the garments from his body. He wears two pieces of cloth tied with strings, washes his feet, rinses his mouth and with the Sadyojata mantra wears ash, and gathers dust from a road and smears it on his body. Sage, the guru affectionately takes him by the hand and seats him facing east with cupped hands on an ornamented platform, on an excellent, pure guru's seat covered with cloth, antelope skin and kusha grass. The guru brings a local conch with its stand, purifies it with the weapon mantra and sets it comfortably before him. He worships the conch and stand with flowers, sanctifies it with the armour of the weapon mantra, pours water into it, fills it as before and worships it with the six-limb mantras. He utters Pranava seven times, worships with perfumes, flowers, foot water and incense and by showing a lamp. The conch is protected and covered, armoured with the weapon mantra, and by local custom the cow and conch gestures are shown. By the worship rules a beautiful, auspicious mandala is drawn in a fine spot in front of and south of the conch and worshipped with fragrant flowers and other things. A clean pot with its stand is purified, sanctified with incense, set down and filled with pure fragrant water. Lord among sages, five kinds of bark, five leaves and five kinds of clay are mixed with perfumes and smeared on it. The pot is decorated with garments, mango leaves, durva grass, a coconut and other things. Five jewels are placed inside; if they are not available one devoutly places gold in it. The five jewels are said to be blue sapphire, ruby, a lump of gold, coral and zircon. By the rules he recites "May this man obtain radiance," ending with "glum." Lovingly and pleasantly he follows the worship rules, starting with Shakti, the foundation, invoking and worshipping the divinity along the path of the five sheaths. As before he offers a food offering of sweet milk rice, cooked rice and betel. Chanting the hundred and eight names he fills the pot with mantras. In order Pranava is chanted a hundred and eight times and the five brahmanas worshipped from Sadyojata to Ishana, again using the armour of the weapon mantra. He devoutly shows incense and lamps to the covering, and the cow and conch gestures. He covers the pot's top with local darbha. A square is drawn in the north-east of the mandala and a beautiful seat placed inside by the rules. The child disciple is seated comfortably on it. With words of blessing the guru picks up the pot and, circling the disciple's head with it, performs his consecration. After reciting Pranava seven times he chants the names of the five brahmanas. At the end of the consecration he sprinkles him with conch water, shows a beautiful lamp and wipes him with cloth. The disciple is made to wear a new loincloth with a string and two fresh garments. The guru washes his feet, rinses his mouth and gathers ash, leads the child by the hand into the centre of the mandala and smears ash on his body by the rules. He sits on a comfortable seat inside, wanting knowledge of the truth, facing east. Seated on his own seat, the guru says: may your self be without blemish; may you be complete as a guru; may you be unwavering in thinking you are Shiva. Deep in thought he sinks into samadhi for a muhurta, then opens his eyes and looks favourably and affectionately at the pure disciple, who sits with hands joined. He places his ash-smeared hand on the child's head, articulates clearly in his right ear the words "I am Hamsa" and says: the first term, "aham," signifies Shakti in your self; the word "sa" is Shiva himself; so think that you yourself are Shiva. So he speaks and teaches such meanings, affectionately explaining the inner meanings of the words: brahmana, I am telling you these words, listen attentively and keep them in mind. Saying this he explains clearly.
Retold in our own words from Bibek Debroy's English translation of the Shiva Purana (Penguin Classics). Names, numbers and the order of events follow the source.