Special Samskara

Upamanyu said

If the disciple has kept the Pashupata vrata, he can also be consecrated an acharya, and not otherwise. As before, a mandala is made and Parameshvara worshipped. As before, five pots are placed, in the directions and the centre: Nivritti in the east pot, Pratishtha in the west, Vidya in the south, Shanti in the north and Shantyatita in the centre. After the protective rites the dhenu mudra is shown. As before, mantras are recited over the pots, ending with a complete oblation. The instructor brings the disciple into the mandala without a headdress. Beginning with the water rites, mantras are recited as before. As before, the lord of the gods is worshipped and his permission taken. For the abhisheka, the disciple is seated on the seat. When all this is done, nyasa of the five kalas is done on the disciple's body with mantras. Bound thus, the disciple is offered to Shiva. From the Nivritti pot to the central pot, in order, the disciple is sprinkled with the auspicious water. The instructor places his auspicious hand on the child's head and, full of feeling for Shiva, instructs him as a Shivacharya. He is adorned and worshipped inside Shiva's mandala, a hundred and eight oblations are offered, then a complete oblation. The guru again worships the lord of the gods, lying flat on the ground like a rod. With joined hands above his head he informs Shiva: "Bhagavan, by your favour I have made him an instructor. Divinity, please command him and shower your divine compassion on him." Having asked this, he bows again with the disciple. Shiva's guru worships Shiva and Shiva's divine agamas. Taking Shiva's permission again, the instructor takes in both hands the book that describes Shiva's knowledge and gives it to the disciple, who bows his head, receives it and places this book of knowledge on the seat for knowledge, then worships it in the recommended way. The guru then gives him royal insignia, since one who has become an acharya is also fit to gain a kingdom. As before, he instructs him in the injunctions stated in Shiva's texts and honoured by people. By the signs given in Shiva's texts he must examine the disciple carefully. When the samskara is complete, the instructor gives him Shiva's knowledge, and teaches him everything: ease, purity, patience, compassion, freedom from desire and jealousy, and the exalted position. Shiva is then released from the mandala and the assistant priests worship Shiva's pots, fire and other things.

If the guru and his companions perform more than one samskara at the same time, everything should be done twice. Pots for purification along the paths are prepared and everything for samskara and abhisheka is undertaken. Worshipping Shiva, the purification along the paths is performed. After all is complete, the divinity is worshipped again. After the water rites, oblations are offered in Ishvara's fire with mantras. Symbolically the mantra is placed in the disciple's hands and the ceremony ends. Or, in order, the whole samskara can be done by the guru with mantras alone, purifying along the paths and performing abhisheka. It is recommended that purification along the paths, by Shantyatita and the other kalas, be done on the basis of three tattvas: Shiva, Vidya and the nature of the self. Shiva came from Shakti, Vidya from Shiva and the self from Vidya. Shiva pervades the path of Shantyatita, Vidya the next path, and the self all the remaining paths in order. It is held that Shambhu is hard to reach, yet there are learned people skilled in the meanings of Shiva's texts who, having gone through samskara by Shakti, gained what they wanted. Krishna, so I have told you all about the rites called samskara, which are of four kinds. What else do you wish to hear?