Chapter 86 - Mode of Purification of scriptural knowledge (vidyā-viśodhana)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

I. The union of the beatific principle of knowledge [vidyā] and that of ancient one should be done as before, after having located the principles. The union should be done with (the mantra) Oṃ, hoṃ, hrīṃ.

2. Attachment, pure knowledge [vidyā], fate, time, illusion and ignorance together with beatific principle are (known as) the seven unions.

3. The six letters, ra, la, va, śa, ṣa, and sa are said (to represent) the branches of learning. The terms beginning with praṇava (oṃ) are twenty-one (in number) (as below)—Om obeisance to Śiva, who is the Lord of all (created) things. haṃ, to (Lord) Śiva, to Īśāna at my head, to Tatpuruṣa at my face, to Aghora at the heart, to Vāmadeva at the anus, to the form of Sadyojāta. Oṃ obeisance again and again to the extremely secret form, to the protector, to the deathless one, to the Lord of all beings, to the form of effulgence, to the Supreme Lord (one who pervades) the sky by thoughts Om.

4-8. Oṃ the forms of Rudras and the bhuvanas (worlds) are described now. The first one is Vāmadeva (Lord of irascible nature), next Sarvabhavodbhava (the source of all beings), Vajradeha (possessing a strong body), Prabhu (lord), Dhātā (the supporter), Krama (order), Vikrama (conquest), Suprabha (resplendent), Vaṭu (youth), Praśānta (tranquil), Paramākṣara (supreme knowledge), Śiva (auspicious), Saśiva (endowed with auspiciousness), Babhru (tawny-coloured), Akṣaya (unperishable), Śambhu (one who begets peace), Adṛṣṭarūpa (having an invisible form), Adṛṣṭanāma (having an unseen name), Rūpavardhana (promoter of beatuty), Manonmana (one who agitates the mind), Mahāvīrya (the mighty one), Citrāṅga (one who is variegated) (and) Kalyāṇa (the blessed one). Thus (the Rudras) are known by the twenty-five names (together with) Mantra (the controller of mind), Ghora (the dreadful one) and Amara (the immortal one). Pūṣā and Hastijihvā are the two occult nerves in that (abovesaid) beatific phase. Vyāna, Nāga and Prabhañjana (are the vital winds).

9. The only object is that of the form. The feet and the eyes are the organs. Sound, touch and sight are known as the three qualities.

10. Here the state is that of deep sleep. Lord Rudra is the cause. All the worlds should be looked upon as located in this (beatific principle of) knowledge [vidyā].

11. Gentle beating, cutting and entry into it should also be done. Having pulled it from the region of the heart by means of knowledge, it should be seized.

12. It should be super-imposed on one’s own soul. The beatific principle should be firmly held and then placed in the fire-pit, after having invoked (lord) Rudra, the cause, and submitted (to him) the (new born) child.

13. Having invoked the divine parents, (the preceptor) should gently strike the (new-born) child in the heart (of the disciple). After having entered it with the mantra spoken earlier, one should unite it with his own soul.

14. After having drawn it out and taking it, it should be united with his own soul by the method described already. It should be united in the womb from the left side. After (the repetition of) the dvādaśa (twelve) letters of mantra it should be taken out.

15. The rites relating to the birth and post-natal purification of the body, enjoyment, deep absorption, purification of the stream and of the principles should be performed.

16. One hundred oblations should be made as expiation, as laid down for the removal of all bondages due to impurities.

17. The severance of bondage (should be done) with (the mantra of) the weapon. The vanishing force of impurities should be cut and pounded. Then the thread should be placed in a circular form^[1].

18. Its burning and the absence of those letters as well as expiation should then be done. The invocation of(god) Rudra, (and his) worship and the submission of sensibles of sight and smell (should be done).

19. Oṃ, hrīṃ O Rudra! take this fee of the sensibles of sight and smell. Oblations. After having conveyed the mandate of lord Śambhu (Śiva) and bidding farewell to (lord) Rudra, the cause, the pure spirit should be located (first) in himself and then located in the thread of bondage.

20. The subtle speck (of the soul) should be placed on his head and the divine) parents should be bid farewell. Then the final oblation should be made, as laid down, which completes all formalities.

21. The act of gently beating and other acts should be done in the beatific knowledge [vidyā] as described earlier. Here the speciality is the location of (the soul as a) speck. Thus the beatific knowledge is purified [i.e., viśodhita or viśodhana].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This act and the succeeding ones are same as those described in the previous chapter.