128 - Initiation of other castes Ganäntika, Comb, Collyrium and Mirror

Varäha said:

1. I shall now tell you about (the initiation of) the Kshatriya.

2. Giving up all weapons which he has practised to wield, let him attain initiation with the mantra mentioned before.

3. He should gather all materials which I had mentioned earlier except one, namely the skin of the black antelope. The staff of Paläšha also is not to be used.

4. Instead, the skin of the black goat is to be given, and the staff of the Ašhvattha is to be used.

5. An altar of twelve cubits is to be made and all that I have said earlier should be done.

6-7. Thus, arranging all the materials for the initiation of the Kshatriya, he should touch my feet and utter the following mantra:

8. “Giving up all weapons, giving up all deeds of the Kshatriya and giving up, in fact, everything, I have resorted to Lord Vishnu for crossing the stream of successive lives”.

9. Then standing on my side and holding my feet, he should utter the following mantra:

10. “O lord of lords, I shall not touch any weapon, I shåll not speak ill of others. I shall follow only such things as are laid down for liberation proclaimed by you in your boar form”.

11. Then he should do all those things as directed, with sandal, leaves, incense etc.

12. Then food should be given to the pious devotees according to practice.

13. O goddess, I have thus told you about the initiation of the Kshatriya who desires to attain my grace.

14. I shall now tell you about (the initiation of) the Vaišhya.

15. Giving up all actions of the Vaišhya and turning everything towards me, the third caste attains the aim.

16. Collecting all the materials I have enumerated before, an altar of ten cubits should be prepared.

17. As before it should be smeared with cowdung. He should then cover himself with goat skin.

18-19. Then holding a staff of Udumbara in the hand, he should circumambulate the pure devotees thrice, and kneeling down utter the mantra:

20. “I, this Vaišhya, have come to you, giving up all my actions as a Vaišhya. By your blessing, I got initiation. May you be pleased to give me liberation”.

21. After saying this and doing things to gain my favour, he may hold the feet of his preceptor and utter the mantra:

22. ''Giving up my cultivation, cattle rearing, business and trade, I have been able to get initiation into your worship by your grace.

23. After bowing to the Lord, the devotees should be fed without fault.

24. Such is the initiation of the Vaišhya to worship following my path for release from samsära.

25. I shall also tell you about the initiation of the Šhüdra by which he gets freed from all sins.

26. All the materials which I had formerly detailed for initiation should be procured.  

27. The altar should be of eight cubits and the skin should be that of the blue goat for the Shüdra.

28. The staff should be of bamboo and the cloth should be blue. Then prostrating before me, he should utter the mantra:

29. ''I, this Shüdra, have given up all actions of Shüdra and all forbidden food”.

30. The Šhüdra desirous of initiation should say like this, giving up all desires, free from all sins and with pure consciousness.

31-32. Then he should hold the feet of the preceptor in his hand and utter the following mantra for propitiating him.

33. “For the sake of relief from Samsära I am doing such actions as are ordained for getting the grace of Vishnu.

34. After uttering the mantra, he should perform circumambulation and prostrate before him again.

35. He should then perform worship with sandal and flowers and, without fail, feed (devotees).

36. Such is the initiation of Šhüdra. I have thus told you about this pertaining to all the four castes.

37. I shall also tell you about the colour of umbrellas for different castes.

38. The white umbrella is for the Brahmin, red for Kshatriya, yellow for Vaišhya and blue fòr Šhüdra.

Süta said:

39. After hearing about (the initiation regarding) the four castes, Earth bowed to Varäha and asked again.

Earth said:

40. “I have now heard about initiation for different castes. (I wish to know) what should bc done by the initiated”.

41. Hearing these words of Earth, the resplendent Lord in the form of boar answered.

Varäha said:

42. “Listen to what I tell you in reply to your question. The observance is called Ganäntika and it should be always considered as secret”.

43. Hearing these words of Lord Näräyana, Earth was pleased and satisfied.

44-45. Then the lotus-eyed goddess who was a devotee herself and was attached to other devotees, spoke to lord Näräyana with folded hands.

Earth said:

46. “O Mädhava, what are the rules to be observed by those that are fully devoted to you and are initiated?

47. How should you, who are unknowable, be contemplated upon by these people according to their capacity?”

48. Hearing these words Of Earth, the Primordial Being replied in sweet words:

Varäha said:

49. I shall tell you in truth what you ask, namely, how I am to be contemplated upon by one dedicated to me.

50. The (use of) Ganäntika (rosary) is an ancient practice pertaining to my contemplation and it is of a secret nature.

51. This should be received by those who are pure and initiated and with the prescribed mantras.

 52. He who is a Bhägavata and receives this Ganäntika with sight and touch, for him the initiation is successful, and he has no duty left.

53. He who receives Ganäntika sanctified by mantra, the initiation is called Äsuri.

54. He who receives the Ganäntika should meditate on me with pure heart.

55. He who meditates by the Ganantika performs the equivalent of contemplation for a thousand lives.

56. I shall tell you how the mantra is to be imparted to the disciple for the good of the world.

57. The day suitable is Dvädašhi in the months of Kaumuda, Märgašïrsha and Vaišhäkha.

58. The follower of my path may receive Ganäntika on that day after avoiding non-vegetarian food for three days.

59-60. Kindling fire before me and installing the on a bed of Kušha grass, the preceptor as well as the initiated disciple shall utter Namo Näräyanãya and recite this mantra:

61. ''O disciple, receive her who was born out of the right side of Lord Narayana, and who was held by the first grandfather Brahma”.

62. Then taking the Ganäntika with this mantra, the preceptor shall give it to his dear disciple with the following mantra:

63. “O my disciple, receive this goddess who was born out of the right side of the lord Näräyana, and on contemplating on whom you will get liberated and never take birth again”.

Earth said:

64-65. After conducting the bath what should be done? By what mantra should decoration be done so that the action may lead to the state of non-action?”

66. Hearing these words of Earth, the lord of the worlds, Janärdana, replied in words of dharma.

Varäha said:

67. “O goddess, I shall tell you in truth what you seek to know, namely the bathing and decoration (of the rosary) which the worshippers perform.

68. In these relating to water (for conducting the bath) and the offerings, the comb, collyrium and mirror are important. Now know what the mantras for this are.

69. After bathing me (as represented in the Ganåntika) white silk should be offered as garment. Then collyrium and comb should be offered.

70-71. Then kneeling down with a sense of dedication to me, he should hold the comb (and the collyrium) in his hand and utter the following mantra:

72. “O great lord, be pleased to accept this comb in my hand and arrange your hair with it.

73. O the most supreme being, this collyrium is for your eyes by which you are able to see all the three worlds”.

74. Then bathing should be done for the deity with the following mantra:

75. “O lord of lords, with folded hands I pray that you may be pleased to accept for your bath the water contained in this golden pitcher”

76. Then Namo Nãräyanãya should be uttered, and the following mantra should be recited:

77. “This worship by mantra I have attained by your grace O Mädhava, I have been given the Ganäntika too. May there not be anything unrighteous for me anymore”.

78. He who follows this after getting it from the preceptor, goes to my world.

79. This should not be given to a bad disciple or to an envious or wicked person. It can be entrusted only in the hands of the good disciple.

80. The best should have one hundred and eight (beads), the medium fiftyfour and the inferior half of that (twentyseven).

81. The best should be of rudräksha, the medium of Putrajivaka and the inferior of padmäksha (seeds).

82. The truth and efficacy of this rosary is not easy to know even by hundreds of lives.

83. It should not be touched by an impure person, and it should not be in hands of women.

84. It should be hung up high and should not be touched by the left hand. It should not be shown to others but worshipped with contemplation.

85. I have, thus, told you this secret leading to liberation. This should be scrupulously guarded. Being purified, my devotee reaches my world”.

86. Hearing these words of Vishnu, the ascetic Earth, again asked the great lord:

87. “How should the mirror be offered to you by which you could see your own form in it?”.

88. Hearing these words of Earth, Varäha said, “O goddess, listen to the rule relating to the offering of the mirror.

89. After saying Namo Nãrayanäya, the following mantra should be recited.

90. “Your ears are the Vedas and Agni, mouth the Brahmin, nostrils Ašhvins, eyes the Sun and the Moon, the face is like the moon, body the entire universe. See this form in this mirror”.

91. He who performs my worship in this manner, liberates seven generations in his family.

92. These are the mantras; these are the modes of service. All this should be done with pleasure and satisfaction by those desirous of beatitude.