Rites on the Twelfth Day, after a Mendicant's Death

Subrahmanya said

On the twelfth day he rises, bathes and does his daily rites. He invites mendicants devoted to Shiva and brahmanas who love Shiva, and when they have bathed and purified themselves he feeds them at midday with many kinds of tasty, auspicious food. In Paramesha's presence they are installed and worshipped along the path of the five sheaths. He does pranayama, holds his speech and takes the great sankalpa: "I resolve to worship our guru." Saying so, he touches darbha grass and washes their feet. After rinsing his own mouth he again holds his speech. He seats them facing east and marks their bodies with ash.

Sage, the brahmanas, filled with deep feeling, meditate on the eight, Sadashiva and the others. He says his own name and, with his understanding, meditates on Parameshthi as the guru together with Amba. He thinks of his own supreme guru, and then of the guru greater than the greatest. Saying "This is the seat," he offers the seat. Beginning with Pranava he states his name a second time, says "I invoke, namah" and offers arghya and water. He offers water for the feet, for rinsing and arghya, a garment, perfumes and unbroken rice. They are decorated with flowers, and their eight names are spoken in the fourth case, beginning with Pranava. Fragrant flowers, incense and lamps follow, and he says, "I have completed the worship in every way." Then he prostrates and rises.

Plates made of plantain leaves are laid out and cleaned. Purified cooked rice, sweet milk rice, cakes, soup and vegetable dishes are served, with plantains, coconuts, molasses and other things, each in its own vessel with the same statement. He sprinkles them and says, "Let Vishnu's oblations be protected," touches them with his hand and rises. He offers drinking water and says, "May Sadashiva and the others be pleased and grant me boons." He does japa of the mantra "ye deva," scatters unbroken rice, prostrates and rises, saying "Let there be amrita everywhere." He pleases them and does japa of the "gananam tva" mantra. In order he chants from the Vedas, the Rudra Sukta, the Chamaka Sukta and the panchakshara.

When the brahmanas have eaten, each is given as many grains of rice as there are mantras. After the meal they receive water for the mouth, hands and feet, and are seated comfortably. As indicated, they are given pure water, camphor and other items, mouth fresheners, a fee, footwear, seats, leaves, vegetable dishes, planks, and rods and staffs of bamboo. He circles them, prostrates and wins their blessings. He prostrates again and prays for unwavering devotion to his guru: "May Sadashiva and the others be happy and go as they please." Saying so, he follows them to the door. If they stop him he turns back from the door and gladly eats with the other brahmanas, his relatives and the poor. There must be no departure from this; I say again that it is true. A person who offers this worship to the guru every year enjoys great pleasures in this world, and afterward goes to Shiva's world.

Suta continued

So the noble divinity showed favour to his disciple, the illustrious sage Vamadeva, and, pleased, spoke again. "Long ago Vyasa, lord of sages, taught this to the great sages at Naimisharanya, so he is the first guru. You, noble one, are the second, and you will be famous in the world. Sanatkumara, full of devotion to Shiva, heard it from your lotus mouth. He will pass it to Vyasa, Shiva's great devotee, and Vyasa will tell it to Shuka and make him complete. Each of these tigers among sages will have four disciples who give themselves to the study of the Vedas and establish dharma. Vyasa will have four brilliant disciples: Vaishampayana, Paila, Jaimini and Sumantu. Vamadeva, great sage, your disciples will be the great-souled Agastya, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu. Sanaka, Sananda, the sage Sanatana and Sanatsujata are noble yogis loved by Shiva, and Sanatkumara's disciples are excellent and master the meaning of all the Vedas. He is a supreme guru, and the succession of gurus runs in this way, but Parameshthi is the supreme guru. All of them, and the yogi Shuka, deserve to be worshipped. This knowledge of Pranava remains within every group of four disciples. Its best home is Kashi, the cause of liberation. This supreme mandala is the form of Shiva's seat. It is worshipped by the supreme lords among mendicants who have fully grasped the meaning of Vedanta. The divisions of the Vedas have been thought out, and it is like the great space that pervades everything. Let it bring you contentment and bring welfare and prosperity to the world. This is the supreme secret spoken by Shiva, resting on the firm conclusions of Vedanta. Since you heard it from me, people will call it your wisdom. Whoever follows the path of 'I am Shiva' goes to Shiva and becomes like Shiva. They move toward liberation as every river made by the Grandfather moves toward the ocean."

Having instructed the lord among sages in this way, the lord of the gods remembered the lotus feet of his parents, worshipped by all the gods. Kumara, the guru who gives wonderful divine knowledge, went to the summit of Kailasa, which is surrounded by many peaks and shines greatly. Surrounded by his disciples, Vamadeva bowed to the one who rides the peacock and also set out for wonderful, supreme Kailasa. Reaching the summit, the sage approached Isha and saw the feet of Isha and the goddess, which give liberation and destroy maya. Full of devotion he offered his body and every limb. He bowed again and again before them, then stood and praised Paramesha with Ambika and their son in many hymns from the Vedas and agamas. He set the lotus feet of the divinity and Devi on his head and, having received their favour, lived there happily.

Suta concluded

All of you have also now learned about Pranava, meaning Maheshvara, the secret of the Vedas, the one inside everyone and the brahman who gives liberation. If you stay comfortably here at the feet of Shri Vishveshvara you will gain sayujya with his lotus feet and supreme liberation. To serve at my guru's lotus feet I will go to the hermitage of Badarika. Though I leave, I will again have a chance to speak with you.