78 - Mode of investiture of the sacred thread for the deity 

The Lord said:

1. Ishall describe the (mode of) investiture of the sacred thread (for the deity) which completes the acts of worship etc. (It is of two kinds), the daily routine (without any motive) and the other being undertaken to be done with a motive. 

2. Itshould be done on the eighth or fourteenth day of the bright or dark fortnights in the months of ashadha (July-August) or sravana (August-September) or bhôdrapada (September-October). 

3-4. Or itshould be done on the first day of either fortnights during the (above) months upto karttika (October-November), for (the images of) the fire god, Brahma, Ambika, Ibhâsya (Ganesha), Näga (lord of serpents), Skanda, Arka (Sun), Sūlin, Durga, Yama, Indra, Govinda (manifestation of Vishņu), Smara (God of love), Sambhu (Shiva) and other gods. (The threadsshould be) made of gold, silver and copper in the kruta (first one among the four eras) and other yugas (cras). 

5.6. A cotton (thread) or silk thread or the one made of (fibres of) lotusshould be used in the kali (yuga) (the last). The pranava (om), moon, Agni, Brahmā, serpent-god, Guha (son ofshiva), Hari (Vishņu), Sarveśa and other gods would reside in the nine component strings (of the thread). The uttama (excellent) and other classes (madhyama and adhama) would be those which contain one hundred and eight (strings) or half of that or a quarter of that. 

7. Or itshould be made to contain eighty-one or thirty eight or fifty strings having binding knots at equal intervals. 

8. The breadth of the threadshould be twelve or eight or four finger lengths or else itshould be equal to the breadth of the linga. 

9. (In length) itshould be touching the pedestal (of the image) or (should be equal) to a quarter of the length of the deity as a whole. The descent of the Gangesshould be accomplished by washing with pure (water). 

10-11. The knotsshould be made with (the mantra of) Våma (deva), purified with that of Aghora, dyed with the paste of saffron, sandal, musk, yellow pigment, camphor, turmeric and red chalk etc. with that of (Tat) purusha. Thereshould be ten knots or equal to the number of strings. 

12-13. The inter-space between the knots (should be) one, two or four finger lengths in such a way as to make it elegant. The knots are known as sadasivå, manonmani, prakruti (nature), paurushi (relating to the purusha), vira (valorous), aparājitā (invincible), jaya (victorious), vijaya (victorious), ajitā (unconquered), sadāśiva (always auspicious), manonmani (expanding intellect), and sarvamukhi (omniscient) which confer good. 

14. The sacred thread for the moon, Agni and sunshould be done similar to that for Śiva, in the heart, or in their own image or in a book or in that of the preceptor or the ganas. 

15. In the same way thereshould be one in each one of the pitchers of the door-keeper and the presiding deity of the directions etc. The sacred thread for the lingashould measure from one to nine cubits in length. 

16-18. The number of knots (in a thread) of the vruddha (class)should be twenty-eight, the number for other classes being eighteen and eight respectively, their breadth in all being proportionate with the breadth of the linga. On the seventh or thirteenth day of a fortnight (oneshould) become clean and do his daily rites. Then (he)should adorn the place of worship with flowers, cloth etc. in the evening andshould perform the naimittika (rites done with some motive), especially the waters of oblation. 

19. After having taken possession of the sacred ground, the sun-godshould be worshipped. After rinsing his mouth, the preceptorshould do the rite of accomplishment (mentioning the names of the parts of the body along with the mantras). Watershould be offered with respect with the pranava (the syllable om). 

20. The thresholdshould be sprinkled with water with the mantra of the weapon (and) the worshipshould be duly commenced from the east. Håm (obeisance) to the entrance to the santikala (digit of peace); (obeisance) to the vidyakala (digit of knowledge). 

21. (Obeisance) to the digit of non-action, to the one digit known as existence. The warden of the godshould be worshipped at the top sides of those doors, two at each (as follows): 

22. (Obeisance) to Nandin, to Mahåkåla, to Bhrungin, to Gana, to Vrushabha, to Skanda, to Devi and to Chanda in order. 

23. In the case of worship being undertaken without any motive, the preceptor, having entered and worshipped the guardian deities at the western entrance, and after purification of materials,should offer water of respect. 

24. After having done the sprinkling (of water) etc., and collected the materials for the rite, consecration with darbha, dürva and flowersshould be made with the mantras like hrud etc. 

25. After having permeated thus with the essence of Śiva, oneshould place it on his head. I amshiva, the first being, omniscient and I have the importance in the rites. 

26. The preceptor (holding) the sword of knowledge in his handshould deeply contemplate the lord. Subsequently heshould go to the south-western direction and pour (the washings etc.) with his face turned towards the north). 

27-28. The respectful water offering, the panchagavya (the five things got from a cow) and all other (articles of worship) which have been purified by means of rites at the end of crossroads and by divine look etc. and put in the sacrificial pavilion, oneshould collect the bunch of kuša lying scattered, place them over the little jar in the north-eastern direction. 

29. The presiding deities of the placeshould be worshipped in the south-west and (Goddess) Lakshmi at the entrance. The pitcher is placed on all kinds of grains facing the west. 

30. Then the bull-riding God and the pitcher (varddhani) placed on the lion (should be worshipped) with the pranava (om). Lordshivashould be worshipped in the jar with his attendant gods and the weapons in the vardhani. 

31-32. Indra and other guardian deities of directions, Brahma, Vishnu andshiva (should be worshipped) in the different) directions. Having taken the vardhani (in the hand) behind the pitcher, the preceptorshould read out the mandate of Lordshiva in all directions commencing with the cast and ending with the north-east. (The entire ground) (should be made wet) by an unbroken flow of water (along) with the recitation of principal mantra. 

33-35. Thisshould be moved around in all directions for the sake of protection as if it were the weapons. Having placed the pitcher in the east, the lordshould be worshipped in the pitcher placed foremost at the front firmly, while thereshould be one for the weapons to the left of it. The weapons located with the pranava (om) (should be worshipped with the vardhani. Then the union of the two, the base and the lingashould be accomplished by (showing) the linga mudra (posture of the fingers representing the linga). Then the sword of knowledgeshould be dedicated to the (consecrated) pitcher. The principal mantrashould then be repeated. 

36-37. Protectionshould be spelled out with a tenth (of the mantra) in the vardhani. After having worshipped Lord Ganesha (lord of the gaņas) in the north-west and Lord Hara (Vishņu) with the five sweet things (milk, sugar, ghee, curd and honey), the fire sacred toshivashould be worshipped in the sacrificial pit as before and bathed after having made the sacrificial gruel duly purified by the sampāta (residual) oblation. 

38. Itshould be divided with the kuša into three parts respectively consecrated to the god, the Agni, and the soul, of which the former twoshould be offered to Lordshiva and the firegod and the part consecrated to the soulshould be kept apart. 

39. (The stick for) cleansing the teethshould be offered on the east by (repeating the mantras of) the weapon and arrow, and (a piece of) earth on the west or south with the (a) ghora and sikhā (mantras). 

40. Water reduced in quantity (should be offered)on the north with the sadyojāta and the hrud (mantras). Perfumed water (should be offered) on the north-east with the väma (deva) and Siras (mantras). 

41. The five things got from a cow and flowers like palasa and lotus (should be cast) all around. Flowersshould be offered on the north-east and the yellow pigment on the south-east. 

42. The agallochum (should be offered) on the south-western direction and all the articles for oblation in four equal proportions on the north-west with the sadyojata (mantra) and with the kuša. 

43-44. (An anchorite's) stick, rosary, loin-cloth, alms bowl, collyrium, saffron, oil, a small stick (for applying the collyrium), comb, betel (leaf), and mirrorshould be offered to the image of the god. The yellow pigment (should be offered) on the north. 

45. Heshould offer a seat, a pair of sandals, a vessel, an upper cloth and an umbrella on the north-east with the mantra of the lord for the satisfaction of Ishana (one of the five forms ofshiva). The sacrificial porridge together with the clarified butter and perfumes etc.should be offered on the cast. 

46. Having gathered the sacred threads and sprinkled them with the waters offered as respect, theyshould be led to the presence of fire after purifying them with the samhita mantras. 

47-48. After having covered them with the hide of the black antelope and remembering the eternal blissful one, the witness of all deeds, the protector, the one without any change, thatshiva, with the application of sva and ha (mantras) and samhita mantras, the sacred threadsshould be purified. Twenty-one water vessels (should be got ready). 

49. The room (for worship) etc.should be girdled by threads. Perfumes etc.should be offered to the sun-god, (who had already been) worshipped. After having rinsed the mouth, and doing the assigning, the watershould be offered with respect. 

50. Then (the worshippershould worship) the vastu god along with the weapons, the guardians of the world, Nandin and others by (mentioning) the name of each in the pitcher of (lord)shiva after adding perfumes. 

51-52. Vardhani, lord of obstacles, the preceptorshould be worshipped. Then the sacred thread smeared with (the paste of) all herbs and perfumed with the flowers and dūrvä and purified with the mantrasshould be held between the folded palms. Om! (salutation to you) the regulation for rectifying any omission in regulations. 

53. O lord! I invoke you and that which yields the desired boon. O lord of entity and non-entity! You bless mc, one who worships, with that success, 

54-55. O Sambhu (Shiva)! Obeisance to you at all times and by all means. Be pleased with me. O lord of celestials! You have been invoked along with the goddess, lords of ganas, lords of mantras, guardians of the world and attendant gods. I invoke you. This sacred thread is for you in the early morning. 

56. O supreme lord! By your command Ishall do the prescribed routine. Thus oneshould invoke the lord and do the amrtikaraña¹ rite by drawing in the breath. 

1. Mental identification of the part of one's body with those of the lord. 

57. Having recited the principal mantra forshiva, itshould be dedicated to (lord)shiva. After completing the recitation  (of mantra), praises, and obeisance, (lord) Sambhu (Shiva)should be bid adieu. 

58-59. Having made oblation with the third part of the gruel in the fire (permcated with the essence) ofshiva, (oblationshould be made) for the residents in the quarters, the lords of the quarters, the spirits, the mothers, ganas, Rudras, guardians of the region. Obeisance. This oblation is given. The oblation is made for the (guardian) elephants of the quarters east etc. and to the regions. 

60. After having rinsed the mouth, the oblationshould be done for the rectification of omissions in the observances. After doing the final oblation, the fireshould be put out. 

61-62. Then om oblations to fire (god), to Soma, om oblations to fire and Soma. So also to Agni, the accomplisher. After having made four oblations, the union of the gods respectively worshipped in the sacrificial pit and the mystic circle of lordshivashould be brought about. 

63-64. Then the unionshould be made by the method of assigning in the different parts of the body. Then the sacred threadsshould be placed in a vessel made of bamboo along with (the mantras of) weapons and armour and consecrated with the (mantras) of the digits. The six articles of worshipshould be consecrated with the principal brahma (mantra) (Om). (The mantras of) the heart, armour and weaponshould also be united. 

65. Having girdled the vessel with threads and worshipped it with the (mantras of) the parts of the body itshould be offered to the lord of the universe with extreme devotion for the sake of protection. 

66. After it has been worshipped with flowers, incense etc. and two theological books have been submitted, oneshould go, near the feet of the preceptor and offer the sacred thread with devotion 

67. Having come out of the place and rinsed the mouth, oneshould worship five things got from a cow, the gruel and the stick for cleansing the teeth on three circles made with the cow-dung. 

68. After rinsing the mouth again, oneshould remain awake singing songs and repeating hymns andshould sleep at the end after fasting on a bed of darbha, all the while contemplating on the land 

69. Even one, who is desirous of cessation of births and deaths,should undertake in this way lying only on a bed of ashes, fasting and self-controlled.