After performing worship with flowers, incense, and other offerings, the sacred thread is placed upon the treatise. With devotion, the disciple approaches the teacher’s feet and offers the pavitraka, the purifying thread, as a mark of reverence. Stepping outside, the disciple undertakes purification, creating three circles of cow dung and worshipping in order with pañcagavya, curd, and cleansing rites. Once purified and connected to the mantra, he engages in singing and keeps vigil, finally resting within, remembering the Lord, and desiring food, lying upon a bed of darbha grass. For those who seek liberation, the process is similar, but they fast and concentrate, lying down upon a bed made only of ashes. The Lord instructs that, rising in the morning, the officiant should bathe, compose himself, and perform the sandhyā worship before entering the sacrificial pavilion. He takes the pavitras, and without dismissing the deities, places them in a clean vessel in the northeast, upon the prepared altar. Then, after dismissing the Lord of gods and removing the used offerings, he sets two kamathas on the clean ground for the day. At the sun’s door, in the directions, at the guardians’ pots, at the Lord, at Śiva, and at the fire, he performs a special, extensive ritual worship. Libations are offered for the mantras, expiatory oblations with the arrow-soul are performed, and, after completing one hundred and eight, the full oblation is gently offered. With purification, the pavitra is given to the sun, and then offered to the doorkeepers, guardians of the directions, and pot-increasers. Seated in his own seat before Śambhu, the officiant offers the pavitra to himself, the gaṇa, the teacher, and the fire. He prays: “Om. O Lord, by you, soul of time, whatever has been desired in my rite—what has been done, afflicted, abandoned, concealed, or accomplished—let it be purified by this pavitra, O Śambhu, according to your wish, in every respect.” He continues: “Om. Complete the sacrificial vow for the Lord of discipline, svāhā. At the essence of self, at the end of nature, protected by the lotus-born. Reciting the root and dissolution, one worships Śiva with the pavitra; at the essence and end of knowledge, protected by the cause of Viṣṇu. Reciting the end of Īśvara, one places the pavitra; at the end and essence of Śiva, protected by the cause of Rudra. Reciting the end of the Śiva mantra, one offers the pavitra to that god, among all causes, reciting Śiva.” He recites: “Om hām, to the Lord of the essence of the Self, to Shiva, svāhā; Om hām, to the Lord of the essence of knowledge, to Shiva, svāhā; Om haum, to the Lord of the essence of Shiva, to Shiva, svāhā.” With humility, he confesses: “Through your inner presence, you are the witness of beings, O Supreme Lord. By action, mind, and speech, I have no other refuge but you. Whatever has been done lacking mantra, ritual, substance, recitation, offering, or worship, has always been done by me for you. Whatever has been left undone or lacking in words, O Great Lord, complete that; grant purity, sanctity, and destruction of sin. By you, all the world, both stationary and moving, is purified. Whatever vow has been broken by me, O Lord, through negligence or error, let all that become unified, woven together by your command.” Having offered recitation to the Lord and composed a hymn with devotion, he bows and accepts the discipline as instructed by the guru, whether for four months, three months, three days, or even one day. Seeking forgiveness from the Lord, the vow-holder goes to the vicinity of the altar, even in the presence of Shiva established in the fire, thus completing the four purifications. He places and worships with flowers, incense, rice, and other offerings, then offers the inner oblation and purification to Rudra and others. Entering within, he praises Shiva with prostration and seeks forgiveness. After the expiatory offering and the rice pudding, he gently gives the full oblation and releases Shiva established in the fire, performing the offering with sacred utterances, and extinguishing the fire without harshness. Next, four oblations are given to Agni and others, and then the purification and external offering to the guardians of the directions. The purification, with its measure, is placed in the book of doctrine, accompanied by the sacred utterances: Om hām bhūḥ svāhā; Om hām bhuvaḥ svāhā; Om hām svaḥ svāhā; Om hām bhurbhuvaḥ svaḥ svāhā; and the four oblations are completed. He offers: Om hām to Agni, svāhā; Om hām to Soma, svāhā; Om hām to Agni and Soma, svāhā; Om hām to Agni for the completion of the sacrifice, svāhā. The guru is worshipped like Shiva with abundant garments and ornaments, and the ritual cycle is thus complete and fruitful. When the guru is fully satisfied, so says the Supreme Lord; the purification is placed resting on the heart of the guru. With devotion, he feeds the twice-born and others, giving garments and so forth, praying that Sadashiva may be pleased by these gifts. In the morning, having bathed and performed other rites, he gathers for Shambhu; worships with eight flowers and the purifications, and then dismisses him. Always, he performs the regular and occasional rites in detail as before, placing the purifications, bowing, and worshipping Shiva in the fire. After offering expiation with the weapon, he performs the full oblation; one desiring enjoyment dedicates his actions to Shiva. He prays: “By your grace, may this action of mine bring about its intended fruit; desiring liberation, may this act not become a cause of bondage for me, O Lord.” He unites the fire, established through the channels, with Shiva in the auspicious one; placing the mass of fire in the heart, he then releases the purifier. Having sipped water and entered within, holding the controlled breath in kumbhaka, he unites it with Shiva, offering it with intention and releasing it with the words, “Forgive me.” After dismissing the guardians of the directions and others, he takes the sanctified thread; and, if Caṇḍeśvara is present, after worshipping him, he offers the sanctified thread. Thus, the sacred rite is completed, with devotion, purification, and humility, each step woven together in honor of Shiva and guided by the wisdom of the teacher.