Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि साधकं नाम नामतः संस्कारमन्त्रमाहात्म्यं कथने सूचितं मया

Now I shall explain the rite called sādhaka, by name; the greatness of the mantra and the consecration have already been indicated by me in the explanation.

संपूज्य मंडले देवं स्थाप्य कुम्भे च पूर्ववत् हुत्वा शिष्यमनुष्णीषं प्रापयेद्भुवि मंडले

Having worshipped the deity in the mandala and installed him in the vessel as before, after offering oblations, he should bring the disciple, with head uncovered, to the mandala on the ground.

पूर्वांतं पूर्ववत्कृत्वा हुत्वाहुतिशतं तथा संतर्प्य मूलमन्त्रेण कलशैर्देशिकोत्तमः

Having performed the eastern part as before, and offering a hundred oblations in the same way, the best teacher should satisfy with the root-mantra using the ritual vessels.

सन्दीप्य च यथापूर्वं कृत्वा पूर्वोदितं क्रमात् अभिषिच्य यथापूर्वं प्रदद्यान्मन्त्रमुत्तमम्

Having kindled the fire as before, performing the previously described sequence, and anointing as before, he should impart the supreme mantra.

तत्र विद्योपदेशांतं कृत्वा विस्तरशः क्रमात् पुष्पाम्बुना शिशोः पाणौ विद्यां शैवीं समर्पयेत्

There, having completed the instruction of knowledge in detail and in order, he should offer the Shaiva knowledge into the hand of the disciple with flowers and water.

तवैहिकामुष्मिकयोः सर्वसिद्धिफलप्रदः भवत्येव महामन्त्रः प्रसादात्परमेष्ठिनः

By the grace of the Supreme Lord, this great mantra indeed bestows all attainments and fruits, both in this world and the next.

इत्युत्वा देवमभ्यर्च्य लब्धानुज्ञः शिवाद्गुरुः साधनं शिवयोगं च साधकाय समादिशेत्

Having spoken thus and worshipped the god, the guru, having received permission from Shiva, should instruct the aspirant in the practice and the discipline of Shiva-yoga.

तच्छ्रुत्वा गुरुसंदेशं क्रमशो मंत्रसाधकः पुरतो विनियोगस्य मन्त्रसाधनमाचरेत्

Hearing the guru’s command, the mantra-practitioner should then perform the prescribed ritual application of the mantra, step by step, in front of the guru.

साधनं मूलमन्त्रस्य पुरश्चरणमुच्यते पुरतश्चरणीयत्वाद्विनियोगाख्यकर्मणः

The preliminary rite for the root-mantra is called puraścaraṇa, because it is to be performed beforehand as the act known as viniyoga.

नात्यन्तं करणीयन्तु मुमुक्षोर्मन्त्रसाधनम् कृतन्तु तदिहान्यत्र तास्यापि शुभदं भवेत्

The practice of mantra should not be done excessively by one seeking liberation; but if performed, here or elsewhere, it will bring auspicious results even for such a person.

शुभे ऽहनि शुभे देशे काले वा दोषवर्जिते शुक्लदन्तनखः स्नातः कृतपूर्वाह्णिकक्रियः

On an auspicious day, in a pure place, and at a faultless time, with clean teeth and nails, having bathed and completed the morning rites,

अलंकृत्य यथा लब्धैर्गंधमाल्यविभूषणैः सोष्णीषः सोत्तरासंगः सर्वशुक्लसमाहितः

Adorned as possible with fragrant unguents, garlands, and ornaments, wearing a turban and upper garment, and entirely clad in white,

देवालये गृहे ऽन्यस्मिन्देशे वा सुमनोहरे सुखेनाभ्यस्तपूर्वेण त्वासनेन कृतासनः

In a temple, at home, or in another delightful place, seated comfortably on a seat previously practiced,

तनुं कृत्वात्मनः शैवीं शिवशास्त्रोक्तवर्त्मना संपूज्य देवदेवेशं नकुलीश्वरमीश्वरम्

Having composed his body in the Shaiva manner, according to the path taught in the scriptures of Shiva, he should worship the Lord of gods, Nakulīśa, the Supreme Lord.

निवेद्य पायसं तस्मै समप्याराधनं क्रमात् प्रणिपत्य च तं देवं प्राप्तानुज्ञश्च तन्मुखात्

He should offer rice pudding to Him, perform the worship in order, bow to that god, and, having received permission from Him,

कोटिवारं तदर्धं वा तदर्धं वा जपेच्छिवम् लक्षविंशतिकं वापि दशलक्षमथापि वा

He should recite the Shiva mantra ten million times, or half that, or half of that, or two million, or one million, or even one hundred thousand times.

ततश्च पायसाक्षारलवणैकमिताशनः अहिंसकः क्षमी शांतो दांतश्चैव सदा भवेत्

Afterwards, he should eat only rice pudding measured with salt and alkaline, always be nonviolent, patient, peaceful, and self-controlled.

अलाभे पायसस्याश्नन्फलमूलादिकानि वा विहितानि शिवेनैव विशिष्टान्युत्तरोत्तरम्

If rice pudding is not available, he may eat fruits, roots, and other foods prescribed by Shiva, each successively more excellent.

चरुं भक्ष्यमथो सक्तुकणान्यावकमेव च शाकं पयो दधि घृतं मूलं फलमथोदकम्

He may eat cooked offerings, food to be chewed, grains, barley, vegetables, milk, curds, ghee, roots, fruits, or water.

अभिमंत्र्य च मन्त्रेण भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकानि च साधने ऽस्मिन्विशेषेण नित्यं भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः

Having consecrated all foods and edibles with the mantra, in this practice, he should always eat with restraint of speech.

मन्त्राष्टशतपूतेन जलेन शुचिना व्रती स्नायान्नदीनदोत्थेन प्रोक्षयेद्वाथ शक्तितः

The vow-holder should bathe with pure water purified by reciting the mantra eight hundred times, or with water from a river or lake, or sprinkle himself as able.

तर्पयेच्च तथा नित्यं जुहुयाच्च शिवानले सप्तभिः पञ्चभिर्द्रव्यैस्त्रिभिर्वाथ घृतेन वा

He should also daily offer libations and oblations into Shiva’s fire, with seven, five, or three substances, or with ghee.

इत्थं भक्त्या शिवं शैवो यः साधयति साधकः तस्येहामुत्र दुष्प्रापं न किंचिदपि विद्यते

Thus, the Shaiva practitioner who worships Shiva with devotion—nothing difficult to obtain remains for him, either in this world or the next.

अथवा ऽहरहर्मंत्रं जपेदेकाग्रमानसः अनश्नन्नेव साहस्रं विना मन्त्रस्य साधनम्

Alternatively, one may recite the Hara mantra with a focused mind, abstaining from food, a thousand times, without the prescribed ritual for the mantra.

न तस्य दुर्लभं किंचिन्न तस्यास्त्यशुभं क्वचित् इह विद्यां श्रियं सौख्यं लब्ध्वा मुक्तिं च विंदति

For such a person, nothing is difficult to obtain, nor does any misfortune arise anywhere; here, having attained knowledge, prosperity, and happiness, one also finds liberation.

साधने विनियोगे च नित्ये नैमित्तिके तथा जपेज्जलैर्भस्मना च स्नात्वा मन्त्रेण च क्रमात्

In both regular and occasional practice, one should recite after bathing with water and ashes, and with the mantra, in proper sequence.

शुचिर्बद्धशिखस्सूत्री सपवित्रकरस्तथा धृतत्रिपुंड्ररुद्राक्षो विद्यां पञ्चाक्षरीं जपेत्

Pure, with hair tied, wearing the sacred thread, holding the purifying ring, adorned with three lines and rudraksha beads, one should recite the five-syllable mantra.

अथैवं संस्कृतं शिष्यं कृतपाशुपतव्रतम् आचार्यत्वे ऽभिषिंचेत तद्योगत्वेन चान्यथा

Then, having prepared the disciple and established the vow of Pashupata, one should consecrate him as a teacher, or otherwise according to the appropriate yoga.

मण्डलं पूर्ववत्कृत्त्वा संपूज्य परमेश्वरम् स्थापयत्पञ्चकलशान्दिक्षु मध्ये च पूर्ववत्

Having made the mandala as before and worshipped the Supreme Lord, one should place five pots at the directions and in the center, as previously.