Chapter IX - The mode of spiritual initiation

Hari said:—Being initiated in proper time and having his eyes covered with a cloth a disciple should offer one hundred and eight oblations with the principal mantram. O Rudra, twice the number should be offered in a Putraka Homa,^[1] thrice the number in Sadhaka^[2] and four times the number in Nirvanadeshika.^[3] A destroyer of a preceptor, Vishnu’s image, Brahmana and a woman deserves death at the hands of those who are not initiated. I will describe his Diksha or initiation destructive of virtue and sin.

Having caused his disciples to sit outside he should make them concentrate their minds. O Rudra, he should consider them purified by the wind, burnt by the fire and again sprinkled with water. Uniting the sentiency with fire he should consign it to fire. He should meditate on Pranava, the instrument of all, in the sky and in the body. He should next unite it with Kshetrajna^[4] for its being the cause of the body. Then imagining all the Saktis or female energies of of the deity in the various Mandalas he should adore Hari. There should be four doors in order of Brahma Tirtha (shrine) and others. The head is the lotus; the fingers are the petals; the palm is the pericarp and the nails are the filaments. Then meditating thereon Hari, the sun and fire, he, with a controlled mind, should place it on the head of the disciple, for in the hand is stationed Vishnu, his own hand being that of Vishnu, and with its touch the entire collection of sins is dissipated.

Having adored the disciple, covered his eyes with a piece of cloth, and placed him in front of the deity the preceptor should throw flowers there. He should throw, flowers where the head of the deity, the holder of Shranga bow, is. He should mention his name as well as those of his wives. In the case of a Shudra, an expert preceptor should mention the name of his master.