Samskara of the Sadhaka

Upamanyu said

Next I will tell you about the one called the sadhaka, and as I speak of the greatness of the mantra I will also tell how his samskara is done. As before, the divinity is established in the pot within the mandala and worshipped. After the oblations the disciple is brought to the ground where the mandala is built, without his headdress. The excellent instructor performs all the rites described earlier, with a hundred oblations ending in a complete oblation, and water rites with the basic mantra and water from the pots. As before, he lights a fire and does the earlier rites. Sprinkling him as before, he gives him the excellent mantra and in order imparts the extensive knowledge. Placing flowers and water in the child's hands, he gives him knowledge of Shiva: "In this world and the next, by the favour of Parameshthi and through this great mantra, may you gain every siddhi as its fruit." Saying so, Shiva's guru worships the divinity and obtains his permission. He instructs the sadhaka in the practice used for Shiva's yoga. Hearing the guru's teaching, the sadhaka first learns the application and then uses the mantra as his practice. Using the basic mantra as practice is called purashcharana, because it has to be done before any application. If he wants liberation, he should not push the mantra practice to excess. Done properly, it gives what is auspicious in this world and the next.

The day must be auspicious, the place auspicious, the time free of faults. He first bathes, so that teeth and nails are bright, and does his daily rites. He decorates himself with fragrances, garlands and whatever ornaments he has. His headdress, upper cloth and all other garments must be white. He chooses a temple, his home or another pleasing spot he has been used to. Controlling himself, he sits on a seat in a posture. By the path described in Shiva's texts, he makes his body fit for Shiva. He worships the divinity, the lord of the gods, Ishvara Nakulishvara, offers sweet milk rice as the food offering, and completes the rites of worship in order. He bows to the divinity and receives permission from his mouth. Then he does japa on Shiva a crore of times, five million, two and a half million, two million or a million times. He eats the sweet milk rice, which should not be too salty or sour. He should always be non-violent, forgiving, calm and controlled. If there is no sweet milk rice, he eats fruits and roots, which are also recommended for Shiva and are special, getting progressively better. Whatever food he eats must be consecrated with mantras: charu, grains of saktu, yavaka, vegetables, milk, curd, ghee, roots, fruits and water. When engaged in practice, especially while eating, he must keep silent. If able and not in distress, he should always bathe in a river that flows east or west. Devoted to his vow, he purifies the water by pronouncing the mantra over it a hundred and eight times. He must always perform the water rites and offer oblations in Shiva's fire, with seven, five or three articles of worship, or with ghee. A sadhaka devoted to Shiva who follows Shiva's path this way finds nothing in this world or the next out of reach. Or, with single-minded attention, he can do japa with the mantra every day, and he should not eat until he has done this practice a thousand times. Then nothing is impossible for him and nothing inauspicious. Having gained learning, prosperity and happiness in this world, he gains liberation. Whether in a nitya or naimittika rite, when he uses this practice he first bathes with water and ash and then does japa. He wears a pure sacred thread and tuft and a ring of kusha grass on his hand, wears the Tripundra and rudraksha, and does japa of the panchakshara.