When the disciple beholds the sacred maṇḍala, he bows deeply to the Lord, palms joined in reverence. The Śiva teacher, seated at the southern side of the maṇḍala, invites the disciple to sit respectfully to his left upon a seat of darbha grass. There, after worshipping Mahādeva, the teacher forms the Śiva hand gesture, imbuing his own hand with the radiance of Śiva. With devotion swelling in his heart, he recites the Śiva mantra and places his hand upon the disciple’s head, transmitting the divine energy. Next, the teacher performs the gesture of full-body support, sanctifying the disciple completely. The disciple, recognizing the teacher as the very embodiment of the Lord, prostrates himself fully on the ground in deep humility. The teacher then offers proper worship to the Lord within the sacred Śiva fire. After making the threefold offering, he seats the disciple as before and continues the rite. With the tips of darbha grass, the teacher touches the disciple, entering into him through the power of knowledge. After bowing to Mahādeva, he performs the joining of the subtle channels, following the method taught in the Śiva scriptures. He guides the disciple’s breath outward, then enters the disciple’s body, and through focused remembrance, satisfies the mantras. To fulfill the root mantra, the teacher makes ten offerings, and three more for the mantras of the limbs, each in their proper order. After a full offering for expiation, he, knowing the mantras well, repeats ten more offerings with the root mantra. Once more, he worships the Lord of gods, performs the necessary purifications, and, making the offerings as prescribed, elevates the Vaiśya to his proper caste. In the same way, he generates the Kṣatriya status, and then, with equal precision, confers Brāhmaṇa status upon the disciple. Having thus uplifted the Rājanya and established him as a Brāhmaṇa, the teacher bestows upon both the status of Rudra, establishing the name of Rudra in the Brāhmaṇa. After sprinkling and striking the child, the teacher reflects within himself, perceiving his own self as the very essence of Shiva, flashing like a spark. Following the prescribed method, the teacher expels his breath through the sacred channel, then enters the heart of the disciple through that same path. There, he contemplates the disciple’s consciousness, seeing it as a blue, shining point, purified by his own radiance. By means of that channel and the gesture of withdrawal, he unites the disciple’s consciousness with his own, not through inhalation but for the purpose of true unification. Then, retaining and again exhaling as before, he returns the consciousness and establishes it within the disciple’s heart. Having received this blessing from Shiva, the teacher bestows the sacred thread upon the disciple. After three oblations, he offers the full oblation. The disciple is then seated to the south of the deity, on an excellent seat covered with kusa grass and flowers, hands joined and facing north. The teacher himself sits facing east upon a fine seat, in the svastika posture, and recites the mantras with auspicious resonance. Taking a pure, full water pot, the teacher meditates on Shiva and anoints the disciple. Then, after bathing and donning white garments, the disciple purifies and adorns himself, and with joined palms, approaches the ceremonial pavilion. The teacher seats him as before on a darbha grass seat, worships the deity in the maṇḍala, and performs the ritual hand gestures. Meditating on the deity as ashes within his mind, the teacher touches the disciple and utters the sacred name "Śiva." Having performed burning, washing, and all necessary acts, the Śiva teacher completes the ritual according to the matrika-nyasa tradition. Meditating on the seat of Shiva, he invokes Shiva upon the disciple’s head, worshipping him there mentally with the proper method. With joined palms, he prays to the deity, "Always remain present here." Having thus requested, he remembers the radiance of Śambhu. After worshipping Shiva and receiving the Shaiva command, which is of Shiva’s own nature, the teacher softly whispers the Śiva-mantra into the disciple’s ear. The disciple, with joined palms and mind absorbed in the mantra, recites it slowly, just as the teacher instructs. The teacher, expert in mantras, then instructs the disciple in the Shakta mantra, pronounces it, and blesses him with well-being. He explains the meanings of the mantras, showing the relationship between the expressed and the expression, reveals the form of the Lord, and prescribes the posture for meditation. By command of the teacher, the disciple, in the presence of Shiva, fire, and guru, utters the words of initiation with devotion, firmly resolved in mind. He learns that it is better to give up one’s very life, even to lose one’s head, than to partake of anything without first worshipping the Blessed Three-Eyed One. The disciple is instructed to give and worship with discipline as long as delusion and error persist, remaining steadfast and devoted to the deity. This marks the beginning of the samaya stage in the Shiva hermitage, where, having obtained authority, the disciple becomes subject to the teacher’s command and remains under his guidance. After this, the teacher, with hands lowered, takes sacred ashes from his own hand and gives them to the disciple, along with a Rudraksha bead empowered by mantra. If possible, he also provides an image of the deity, a concealed body, and the means for worship, offering, recitation, and meditation. The disciple receives these gifts from the teacher with great respect, accepting them only by the teacher’s command. He places them on his head with devotion, protects them, and worships Śambhu either in the monastery or at home. Finally, the teacher instructs the disciple in the conduct befitting a devotee of Shiva, tailoring his guidance according to the disciple’s devotion, faith, and understanding, thus completing the sacred initiation and setting him firmly on the path of Śiva.