79 - Investiture of the sacred thread

The Lord said:

1. Having got up early in the morning, and finishing bathing the worshippershould enter the sacrificialshed after completing the twilight worship and remaining composed. 

2. Having collected the sacred thread, and the deity not being given farewell, the sacred threadshould be placed in a spotless vessel within a mystic diagram in the north-east. 

3. Then the lord of celestialsshould be bid farewell and the materials of worshipshould be removed (from the body of the deity). Heshould again perform the two rites as before on the cleaned ground. 

4. Then the gods-sun, the guardian deities of the entrance and of the directions the pitcher, Ishäna,shiva and the Agnishould specially be worshipped, as usually done in the naimittiki (done with some motives) rites, elaborately. 

5. (Having done) the tarpaņa (appeasing) rite with the mantras and the oblation of expiation one hundred and eight times with (the mantras of) the arrows, the final oblationshould be made slowly. 

6. Having offered the sacred thread to the sun god and rinsing the mouth, (the worshipper)should offer it to the guardian deities of the entrance and of the directions, the sacrificial pitcher and vardhani etc. 

7. Then having sat in his own seat in the presence of lord Sambhu (Śiva), (the worshipper)should offer the sacred thread to one's own self, the gana, the priest and Agni. 

8-9. Om o lord! soul of the time, whatever has been ordained by you in my observances that which has been done. contradictorily, and omitted, and that which has been done secretly O Sambhu let the contradictory thing become normal, the contradictory deed become refined, by, this omniscient sacred thread and by your wish. 

10. Om! Complete this sacrificial observance! Oblations to the lord of regulations, the principle of the soul, that which underlines the natural principle that is protected by the lotus-born Brahma. 

11-15. Having recited the principal mantra upto the end, lordshivashould be worshipped with the sacred thread. Again in the principle of knowledge which is the end of all the learning and which is governed by Vishņu, oneshould invest the sacred thread having recited the mantras of Vishņu. Similarly, in the principle relating toshiva, heshould recite the mantras ofshiva and invest that deity with the sacred thread. O man of good practices! In the case of those governed by all the deities oneshould recite the principal mantra upto the end after having recited the mantras ofshiva and the descent of the Gangesshould be accomplished. In the case of those who desire to get release (from the cycle of births) it is said that the sacred threadshould be invested with the mantras ofshiva relating to the knowledge of the soul. For those who desire to get enjoyment it has been pointed out (that the sacred threadshould be invested) duly with (the mantras of) the principles ofshiva. The mantrasshould be uttered ending with ‘oblation' or 'obeisance'. 

16. Om ham oblations to lordshiva, the lord of the principle of soul. Om ham oblations to (lord)shiva, the lord of the principle of learning. Om hôm oblations to (lord)shiva, lord of the principle ofshiva. Om hãm oblations to lordshiva, the lord of all principles (of the universe). Having made obeisance to the descent of the Ganges, heshould pray to it with folded palms. "You are the refuge for all beings. You reside in the movable and immovable beings." 

17. "O Supreme lord! You are the witness (of the acts) of beings by pervading inside the beings. By deed or thought or words I have no other being to resort to except you." 

18-19. "O Great lord! Whatever has been done defective in the mantra or deeds or in the materials (of worship) or in the repetition and worship in the daily (observances), may you complete them. O Supreme lord! You are well-purified. You are pure and destroyer of sins. Every being in the universe, the immovable and movable have been purified by you. 

20-22. “O lord! Whatever has been made defectively by me in iny observances (let it be free) from becoming useless. By your mandate let all of them become united, being tied in a string.” Having conveyed the recitation (of the mantras ) to the lord and praising him devotedly, oneshould take up the vow after saluting the preceptor and as directed by him. (Itshould be) for four months, (or) three months, (or) three days or one day. 

23-24. After having saluted the lord and seeking excuse, the votaryshould go near the sacrificial pit and cast four sacred threads forshiva located in the fire, and worship with flowers, incense, unbroken rice etc. The oblation and holy threadshould be presented to the Rudras. 

25-26. Having entered inside and praisingshiva (the lord)should be bid adieu with salutations. After having made the expiatory oblation and oblation of sweet porridge, the final oblationshould be offered and (lord)shiva located in the fireshould be bid farewell. Having performed oblations with the vyährutis (the syllables om bhuḥ, om bhuvaḥ etc.), the fireshould be obstructed with nishthura (scornful goddess). 

27-31. Then four oblationsshould be offered to the Agni and others. Oblationshould be given outside along with a sacred thread to the guardian deities of all directions. Two theological books and a sacred threadshould be offered. Om, ham, bhūḥ oblations. Om, ham, bhuvak oblations. Om, hàm svaḥ oblations. Om, hām, bhurbhuvaḥ svaḥ oblations. After having done the oblations with the vyährutis, four oblationsshould be made as follows). Om, ham oblations to the Agni. Om, ham oblations to the Agni, one who accomplishes all desires. The preceptorshould be worshipped as lordshiva with clothes, ornaments and bed. All annual rites etc. of the performer (become) fruitful if the preceptor gets satisfied. The Supreme lord had said so. After having placed the thread on the body of the preceptor thus, the brahminsshould be fed and offered clothes etc. with devotion. “O lord of celestials! May lordshiva get pleased by this gift of mine." 

32. After having bathed in the morning (the investor)should perform his daily rites of prayer and worship and take leave of (god)shiva after having worshipped him and the sacred threads with eight flowers. 

33. After having performed the nitya and naimittika rites as before in full, the sacred threadsshould be placed and lordshivashould be worshipped in the fire after obeisance. 

34. The expiatory oblationshould then be done with the mantras of the weapons. The final oblationshould then be given. One who is desirous of enjoymentshould then submit the fruits of his acts to lordshiva. 

35. "May this rite of mine become fruitful by your grace!" One who is desirous of release (from the cycle of births)should do this act (as follows): "O lord! May there be no bondage for me." 

36. (Lord)shiva located in the fireshould be united with lordshiva (in the solar plexus of the investor) by nädiyoga (assignment on limbs). The essence of fireshould be drawn in one's heart and the fireshould be discharged. 

37. After having rinsed the mouth well, (he)should enter inside (theshed) and permeate the water of the pitcher with the essence ofshiva and bid farewell (after saying) "Pardon (me)”, 

38. After having taken leave of the guardian deities of the world, the sacred threadshould be taken from the lord and placed on the Chapeśvara (form of the lord) after worship. 

39. The materials of worship along with the sacred threadshould be submitted to him. In the alternative lord Chaņdashould be worshipped on the sacrificial ground in the prescribed manner as before. 

40. “Whatever annual rite has been done by me defectively, may that become perfect by your mandate, O lord! Chanda! my master!" 

41. Having thus submitted to the lord of celestials, heshould be given farewell after obeisance and praise. After having removed the materials of worship (from the images) and becoming pure, the votaryshould bathe (the image) and worship (lord)shiva. A man who remains even at a distance of five yojanas (a yojana is equal to about eight miles) from the preceptor (is deemed to be) pure.