Agni Purāṇa

90 - Anointing the disciple after worshippingshiva 

The Lord said: 

1. Having worshipped lordshiva, the (rite of) bathingshould be done for the welfare of the disciple. Nine pitchersshould duly be placed in the directions of north-east etc. 

2. The preceptorshould invoke the eight oceans of alkali, milk, curd, ghee, molasses, wine, sweet water and sour water in those pitchers. 

3-4. The following eight Rudrasshould be duly located in them: - (1) Sikhandin, (2) Srikantha, (3) Trimurta, (4) Ekarudråksha, (5) Ekanetra, (6)shivottama, (7) Sükshma, and (8) Ananta. 

5. Lordshiva, the ocean and the mantra of lordshivashould be located in (the pitcher at) the middle. Sacrificialsheds (are erected) for the deities of the quarters within the pavilion. 

6. A platform measuring eight inches in height and two cubits in lengthshould be erected wherein an endless seatshould be made as also a seat of bel leaves. 

7-14. Having made the disciple face eastwards, and doing the sakalikaraņa1, (the preceptor)should worship (the pupil). His bodyshould then be rubbed with sour gruel, earth, ashes, durva (a kind of grass), cowdung balls, white mustard and curd mixed with water. Then the pupilshould duly be bathed with the waters of the pitchers starting 'with that of alkali with the repetition of (the mantras of) the heart, vidyeśha and Sambara with pleasure and devotion. Having clad him in white dress and placed him to the right of lordshiva, the discipleshould again be worshipped as before in the cushion mentioned already. (The preceptorshould address him as follows): "From this day onwards youshall test well the recipient of the dress of an anchorite such as the turban, cloth on the body while in meditation, crown, knife, pot, rosary, book etc., initiation, exposition and installation before you favour him. You hear the command." After having saluted the disciple and prostrating (in front of lord) Maheśhvara, the following submissionshould be made for the removal of all impediments. “I have been commanded by you in the form of a preceptor for doing abhisheka (anointing) ceremony. This (disciple) who is well-versed in the scriptural lore has been anointed by me O (Lord)shiva." Five times five oblationsshould be made for the propitiation of the chain of mantras. 

1. The act of assigning the different parts of the body different deities with the different mantras. 

15-16. Then the final oblationshould be made. The discipleshould then be made to sit on the right side of one's self (preceptor). Then the preceptor)should mark the fingers of the right hand of the disciple beginning with the thumb with the burnt edge of darbha with the Sambara (mantra) for the sake of establishing contact. After having placed flowers on the hand, heshould be made to bow down. 

17-18. The merits of performance of this riteshould be assigned to (lord)shiva, the fire, the pitcher and his own self. (The preceptorshould address him as follows): The disciples who have been well examined in the scripturesshould be blessed by you. Like a monarch the desired objects are gained by men by this anointing (with the mantra of) the weapons—Om, Śram, srim, pašhum, hum, phat.