Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

अथापनुद्य स्नानांबु परिधाय सितांबरम् आचान्तोलंकृतश्शिष्यः प्रांजलिर्मंडपं व्रजेत्

Then, after bathing and putting on white garments, the disciple, having performed purification and adorned himself, with joined palms, should approach the pavilion.

उपवेश्य यथापूर्वं तं गुरुर्दर्भविष्टरे संपूज्य मंडलं देवं करन्यासं समाचरेत्

Seating him as before on a seat of darbha grass, the teacher should worship the deity in the mandala and perform the ritual gestures with his hands.

ततस्तु भस्मना देवं ध्यायन्मनसि देशिकः समालभेत पाणिभ्यां शिशुं शिवमुदीरयेत्

Then, meditating on the deity with ashes in his mind, the teacher should touch the child with his hands and utter 'Shiva.'

अथ तस्य शिवाचार्यो दहनप्लावनादिकम् सकलीकरणं कृत्वा मातृकान्यासवर्त्मना

Then, the Shiva-teacher, having performed burning, washing, and other such acts, should accomplish the complete ritual according to the path of the matrika-nyasa.

ततः शिवासनं ध्यात्वा शिष्यमूर्ध्नि देशिकः तत्रावाह्य यथान्यायमर्चयेन्मनसा शिवम्

Then, meditating on the seat of Shiva, the teacher should invoke Shiva upon the head of the disciple and worship him there mentally according to the proper method.

प्रार्थयेत्प्रांजलिर्देवं नित्यमत्र स्थितो भव इति विज्ञाप्य तं शंभोस्तेजसा भासुरं स्मरेत्

With joined palms, he should pray to the deity, saying, 'Always remain present here,' and having thus requested, he should remember that brilliance of Shambhu.

संपूज्याथ शिवं शैवीमाज्ञां प्राप्य शिवात्मिकाम् कर्णे शिष्यस्य शनकैश्शिवमन्त्रमुदीरयेत्

Having worshipped Shiva and received the Shaiva command, which is of the nature of Shiva, he should softly utter the Shiva-mantra into the disciple's ear.

स तु बद्धांजलिः श्रुत्वा मन्त्रं तद्गतमानसः शनैस्तं व्याहरेच्छिष्यशिवाचार्यस्य शासनात्

The disciple, with joined palms, having heard the mantra and with his mind absorbed in it, should slowly recite it as instructed by the Shiva-teacher.

ततः शाक्तं च संदिश्य मन्त्रं मन्त्रविचक्षणः उच्चारयित्वा च सुखं तस्मै मंगलमादिशेत्

Then, the expert in mantras, having instructed the disciple in the Shakta mantra and pronounced it, should bless him with well-being.

ततस्समासान्मन्त्रार्थं वाच्यवाचकयोगतः समदिश्येश्वरं रूपं योगमासनमादिशेत्

Then, having considered the meanings of the mantras through the relationship of the expressed and the expression, one should indicate the form of the Lord and prescribe the posture for meditation.

अथ गुर्वाज्ञया शिष्यः शिवाग्निगुरुसन्निधौ भक्त्यैवमभिसंधाय दीक्षावाक्यमुदीरयेत्

Next, by the command of the teacher, the disciple, in the presence of Shiva, fire, and the guru, should utter the words of initiation with devotion, having thus resolved in mind.

वरं प्राणपरित्यागश्छेदनं शिरसो ऽपि वा न त्वनभ्यर्च्य भुंजीय भगवन्तं त्रिलोचनम्

It is better to give up one's life, or even to have one's head cut off, than to partake of anything without first worshipping the Blessed Three-Eyed One.

स एव दद्यान्नियतो यावन्मोहविपर्ययः तावदाराधयेद्देवं तन्निष्ठस्तत्परायणः

He alone should give, with discipline, as long as delusion and error persist; so long, he should worship the deity, steadfast and devoted to that purpose.

ततः स समयो नाम भविष्यति शिवाश्रमे लब्धाधिकारो गुर्वाज्ञापालकस्तद्वशो भवेत्

Thereafter, that is called the 'samaya' stage in the Shiva hermitage; having obtained authority, he becomes subject to the teacher's command and remains under his guidance.

अतः परं न्यस्तकरो भस्मादाय स्वहस्ततः दद्याच्छिष्याय मूलेन रुद्राक्षं चाभिमंत्रितम्

After this, with hands placed down, he should take ashes from his own hand and give them to the disciple, along with a Rudraksha bead empowered by mantra.

प्रतिमा वापि देवस्य गूढदेहमथापि वा पूजाहोमजपध्यानसाधनानि च संभवे

If possible, a representation of the deity, or a concealed body, and also the means of worship, offering, recitation, and meditation should be provided.

सोपि शिष्यः शिवाचार्याल्लब्धानि बहुमानतः आददीताज्ञया तस्य देशिकस्य न चान्यथा

The disciple, having received these from the Shiva teacher with great respect, should accept them by the teacher's command, and not otherwise.

आचार्यादाप्तमखिलं शिरस्याधाय भक्तितः रक्षयेत्पूजयेच्छंभुं मठे वा गृह एववा

Having received everything from the teacher, he should place it on his head with devotion, protect it, and worship Shambhu either in the monastery or at home.

अतः परं शिवाचारमादिशेदस्य देशिकः भक्तिश्रद्धानुसारेण प्रज्ञायाश्चानुसारतः

After this, the teacher should instruct him in the conduct of Shiva, according to his devotion, faith, and also according to his understanding.

यदुक्तं यत्समाज्ञातं यच्चैवान्यत्प्रकीर्तितम् शिवाचार्येण समये तत्सर्वं शिरसा वहेत्

Whatever has been said, whatever has been understood, and whatever else has been declared by the Shiva teacher in the samaya, all this he should bear upon his head.

शिवागमस्य ग्रहणं वाचनं श्रवणं तथा देशिकदेशतः कुर्यान्न स्वेच्छातो न चान्यतः

The study, recitation, and hearing of the Shiva scriptures should be done according to the teacher's guidance, not by one's own wish nor otherwise.

इति संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तः संस्कारः समयाह्वयः साक्षाच्छिवपुरप्राप्तौ नृणां परमसाधनम्

Thus, in brief, the rite called 'samaya' has been described, which is the supreme means for people to attain the city of Shiva directly.

अतः परं समावेक्ष्य गुरुः शिष्यस्य योग्यताम् षडध्वशुद्धिं कुर्वीत सर्वबंधविमुक्तये

After this, the teacher, having examined the disciple's fitness, should perform the purification of the six paths for the liberation from all bonds.

कलां तत्त्वं च भुवनं वर्णं पदमतः परम् मंत्रश्चेति समासेन षडध्वा परिपठ्यते

Kala, tattva, bhuvana, varna, pada, and mantra—these are briefly enumerated as the six paths.

निवृत्त्याद्याः कलाः पञ्च कलाध्वा कथ्यते बुधैः व्याप्ताः कलाभिरितरे त्वध्वानः पञ्च पञ्चभिः

The five kalas beginning with nivritti are called the path of kala by the wise; the other five paths are pervaded by the kalas, each by five.

शिवतत्त्वादिभूम्यंतं तत्त्वाध्वा समुदाहृतः षड्विंशत्संख्ययोपेतः शुद्धाशुद्धोभयात्मकः

The path of tattva is said to extend from the Shiva principle to the lowest realm, consisting of twenty-six elements, having both pure and impure aspects.

आधाराद्युन्मनांतश्च भुवनाध्वा प्रकीर्तितः विना भेदोपभेदाभ्यां षष्टिसंख्यासमन्वितः

The path of bhuvana is described as ranging from the base to the highest state, consisting of sixty in number, excluding distinctions and subdivisions.

पञ्चाशद्रुद्ररूपास्तु वर्णा वर्णाध्वसंज्ञिताः अनेकभेदसंपन्नः पदाध्वा समुदाहृतः

The fifty Rudra-forms are the letters, known as the path of letters; the path of words, possessing many varieties, is thus declared.

सर्वोपमंत्रैर्मंत्राध्वा व्याप्तः परमविद्यया यथा शिवो न तत्त्वेषु गण्यते तत्त्वनायकः

The path of mantras is pervaded by all supreme mantras through the highest knowledge, just as Shiva is not counted among the tattvas, being their Lord.