Chapter 90 - Anointing the disciple after worshipping Śiva

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. Having worshipped lord Śiva, the (rite of) bathing should be done for the welfare of the disciple. Nine pitchers should duly be placed in the directions of north-east etc.

2. The preceptor should invoke the eight oceans of alkali, milk, curd, ghee, molasses, wine, sweet water and sour water in those pitchers.

3-4. The following eight Rudras should be duly located in them:—(1) Śikhaṇḍin, (2) Śrīkaṇṭha, (3) Trimūrta, (4) Ekarudrākṣa, (5) Ekanetra, (6) Śivottama, (7) Sūkṣma, and (8) Ananta.

5. Lord Śiva, the ocean and the mantra of lord Śiva should be located in (the pitcher at) the middle. Sacrificial sheds (are erected) for the deities of the quarters within the pavilion.

6. A platform measuring eight inches in height and two cubits in length should be erected wherein an endless seat should be made as also a seat of bel leaves.

7-14. Having made the disciple face eastwards, and doing the sakalīkaraṇa^[1], (the preceptor) should worship (the pupil). His body should then be rubbed with sour gruel, earth, ashes, dūrvā (a kind of grass), cowdung balls, white mustard and curd mixed with water. Then the pupil should duly be bathed with the waters of the pitchers starting with that of alkali with the repetition of (the mantras of) the heart, vidyeśa and śambara with pleasure and devotion. Having clad him in white dress and placed him to the right of lord Śiva, the disciple should again be worshipped as before in the cushion mentioned already. (The preceptor should address him as follows): “From this day onwards you shall test well the recipient of the dress of an anchorite such as the turban, cloth on the body while in meditation, crown, knife, pot, rosary, book etc., initiation, exposition and installation before you favour him. You hear the command.” After having saluted the disciple and prostrating (in front of lord) Maheśvara, the following submission should be made for the removal of all impediments. “I have been commanded by you in the form of a preceptor for doing abhiṣeka (anointing) ceremony. This (disciple) who is well-versed in the scriptural lore has been anointed by me O (Lord) Śiva.” Five times five oblations should be made for the propitiation of the chain of mantras.

15-16. Then the final oblation should be made. The disciple should then be made to sit on the right side of one’s self (preceptor). Then (the preceptor) should mark the fingers of the right hand of the disciple beginning with the thumb with the burnt edge of darbha with the śambara (mantra) for the sake of establishing contact. After having placed flowers on the hand, he should be made to bow down.

17-18. The merits of performance of this rite should be assigned to (lord) Śiva, the fire, the pitcher and his own self. (The preceptor should address him as follows): The disciples who have been well examined in the scriptures should be blessed by you. Like a monarch the desired objects are gained by men by this anointing (with the mantra of) the weapons—Oṃ, śrāṃ, śrīṃ, paśuṃ, hūṃ, phaṭ.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The act of assigning the different parts of the body to the different deities with the different mantras.