The Shiva Purana

by J. L. Shastri | 1950 | 616,585 words

This page relates “special consecration” as found in the Shiva-purana, which, in Hinduism, represents one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. This work eulogizes Lord Shiva as the supreme deity, besides topics such as cosmology and philosophy. It is written in Sanskrit and claims to be a redaction of an original text consisting of 100,000 metrical verses.

Disclaimer: These are translations of Sanskrit texts and are not necessarily approved by everyone associated with the traditions connected to these texts. Consult the source and original scripture in case of doubt.

Chapter 20 - Special consecration

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Upamanyu said:—

1. The preceptor shall crown consecrated disciple as a preceptor after he has performed íhe Pāśupata rite if he has the requisite qualities and not otherwise.

2. The Maṇḍala shall be made as before and after worshipping the lord he shall, as before, place five water-jars one in each of the four quarters and one in the middle.

3. Nivṛtti Kalā shall be installed in the vessel in the east, Pratiṣṭhā Kalā in the vessel in the west; Vidyā Kalā in the south. Śānti Kalā in the north and the Parā Kalā in the middle.

4. The following rites shall be performed as before, viz. those of Rakṣā, the Mudrābandha or the gesture of the cow, repetition of mantra over the vessels and the homa till the Pūrṇāhuti.

5. The preceptor shall make the disciple enter the Maṇḍala. He shall not wear the head-dress. The Tarpaṇa and other rites too shall be performed as before.

6. Then the lord shall be worshipped and his permission obtained ritualistically. He shall make the disciple sit on the seat for the pouring of water.

7. The disciple imagined as the five-fold offering of fruits shall be united with the Kalās and conceived as Śiva inasmuch as the mantra has been installed on his body; he shall be worshipped then.

8. Then the water from the vessels beginning with Nivṛtti Kumbha and ending with the middle shall be poured over the disciple repeating the names of Śiva.

9. Then the preceptor shall place his hand, repeating the Śiva mantra on the head of the disciple. The preceptor equipped with the piety towards Śiva shall call him Śivācārya.

10. He shall be adorned. Then the preceptor shall propitiate him in Śivamaṇḍala. After performing hundred and eight Āhutis he shall offer the Pūrṇāhuti.

11. The preceptor shall worship the lord and prostrate on the ground with palms joined in reverence over the head. He shall submit to the lord Śiva.

12. “O lord, by your grace this disciple has been made a preceptor by me. O lord, after blessing him, may the divine behest be bestowed on him.

13. After submitting thus, the preceptor shall bow to Śiva again along with the disciple. He shall worship the divine Śiva-Āgama in the same manner as Śiva himself.

14. Then he shall take the ritualistic permission from Śiva. The preceptor shall take the book “Śivajñāna” with both the hands and hand it over to the disciple.

15. The disciple shall accept it with his bent head and place the Vidyā over the scat. He shall then respectfully adore it.

16. The preceptor shall give him royal paraphernalia since one who has attained the status of Ācārya deserves even a kingdom.

17. Then he shall impart to him the modes of discipline followed by elders as mentioned in Śaivite sacred literature and as honoured amongst the people.

18. The preceptor shall test the disciples assiduously through the characteristics mentioned in Śaivite scriptures. He shall consecrate them and impart to them the Śaivite knowledge.

19. He shall infuse in him all these qualities without difficulty, viz. purity, forbearance, mercifulness, non-covetousness and absence of jealousy even strenuously.

20. After thus urging the disciple he shall ritualistically dismiss Śiva from the Maṇḍala. He shall worship the Śivakumbha, fire and others who had been invited there.

21-23. Or the preceptor accompanied by his attendants shall simultaneously perform all the consecratory rites; the rites shall be repeated twice. The water-vessels shall be installed in the beginning itself as in the rite of the purification of the paths. After performing the Samaya consecration, wholly without ablution Śiva shall be worshipped again after the purification of the path. When that is concluded he shall worship the lord again.

24. After homa the Tarpaṇa rite of the mantra shall be performed. After the blessing of the lord the mantra shall be placed in the hand of the disciple and the remaining rites concluded.

25. Or beginning with the consecration of the Mantra and concluding with the rite of Abhiṣeka the rites of the purification of the path shall be performed by the preceptor.

26. In the purificatory rite of the three Tattvas the rites mentioned for the Kalās Śāntyatīta and others shall be performed.

27. Śiva, Vidyā and Ātmatattva—these are the three Tattvas. Śiva came out of Śakti and from Śiva the Vidyā and from Vidyā the Ātman.

28. The Śāntyatīta path is pervaded by Śiva. The next path is pervaded by Vidyā and the remaining paths are pervaded by Ātman.

29. Intelligent persons who have mastered Śaivite Scriptures laud the consecration through Śakti after considering that the consecration through Śiva is very difficult of access.

30. O Kṛṣṇa, thus the four types of consecratory rites have been narrated to you. What else do you wish to hear?

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