Kauthumagrihyasutra 15

In the eighth year is studentship; before the twelfth year, [or] in the eighth year he should perform it, under an auspicious constellation mentioned in the Smṛti. On that day, having undertaken [the rite] in the forenoon and having first performed the ancestral offering for prosperity; then, on an auspicious day having undertaken [the rite] in the forenoon and having first performed the ancestral offering for prosperity; then, on an auspicious day in the forenoon, the preceptor, having bathed [the boy] along with his head and had a complete shaving done of the young initiate, having bathed, decorated himself, and put on an unwashed garment, smears a square sacrificial ground and sits facing east. Stepping onto the foot-washing platform, the student does likewise to the right; the preceptor himself, or of wood, should silently give a new thread [and] wrap it on him. In the same manner with gold, with the hairy hide, having put on the sacred thread, the two having sipped water again, having established the domestic fire […] in the tonsure, initiation, and the shaving of the beard. Then, having performed from the sweeping [of the hearth] up to the introductory formula, having offered the limb of firewood, then, while [the boy] holds on from behind, having offered with the three mystic utterances, taking the young boy with both hands, having made him recite […], he should look [at him] meditating on Savitṛ. With [the formula], ‘With warm [water]...’, he should sprinkle warm water, meditating on Vāyu. The young boy having filled the cavity of his hands with his right hand, having had the hair shaved on the right side, having had it shaved with [the formula], ‘May the waters moisten...’, he should look at the mirror with [the formula], ‘You are the tusk of Viṣṇu.’ Having washed the bundle of darbha grass with [the formula], ‘O herb, protect him!’, and having placed it in its spot, with [the formula], ‘Axe, do not harm him!’, joining the mirror and the herbs, the brahmins should sprinkle him with [the verse], ‘With which Pūṣan...’ Another man, having cut off the tips of the hair once with an iron [razor] along with the tips of the darbha grass, silently throws them into bull’s [dung]; and again, beginning with the moistening and so forth, in this manner on the back and on the north. Having seized his head with [the formula], ‘A life of three lifetimes...’, he should mutter. Approaching him, he should say to the brahmin: ‘Perform [it]!’ The preceptor should ask: ‘What is your name?’ The student should himself say his asterism name. Silently, into the student’s joined hands, and so on the ground, the student [pours water]. Then the preceptor should speak. With both hands he should take the young boy’s joined hands. With [the formula], ‘At the impulse of the god...’, the preceptor reciting the mantra, turning around as if toward the sun, standing facing east; standing behind the preceptor facing east, touching the student’s navel region with both palms: up to [the formula ending with] ‘... of the vital breaths.’ With [the formula], ‘Who...’, [touching] the heart; with ‘kṛsara’, the throat; […] left with left, with [the formula], ‘To the god you...’; or on the opposite side, the left [with], ‘To Prajāpati you...’ And again, the young initiate facing east, the preceptor [says]: ‘You are a Vedic student, [Name]! Add firewood! Sip water! Do your duty! Do not sleep during the day!’ That is, you are a Vedic student. ‘Perform your fire-rite! [...]’ Thus the preceptor should say: ‘It should be done.’ Having replied, ‘Let it be so!’, and having offered the morning oblation, having sung his own hymn, he should perform breath-control. In his own clan or in another clan: in his own clan he should give the portion of the Veda; or in another clan, having divided it, in his own clan in the eastern region, in one region having said ‘...’, they know it to be the bringing forward [of fire]. Having placed that fire directly on the sacrificial grass, then having performed from the sweeping up to the introductory formula, having offered the limb of firewood, then, while [the boy] holds on from behind, having offered with the three mystic utterances, and again having offered with [all of them] combined, the young boy having offered with [the verses] beginning with ‘O Agni, lord of vows...’, he should then lead him between the fire and the teacher. Considering it thus, the brahmin preceptor standing, facing east, placing darbha grass with tips pointing east, the brahmin standing, having filled and taken the water vessel, having made the student join his hands, the brahmin having filled around the hands of the preceptor, the preceptor having muttered the mantra, he should make him look at the student’s joined hands. Then, the Vedic student, having performed breath-control, having sprinkled around and worshipped, should take one piece of firewood with [the formula], ‘To Agni [I offer] the kindling stick...’ Having offered a second [stick] mentally to Prajāpati, having revered the fire with [the formula], ‘Faith and wisdom...’, having introduced himself, having taken ashes with [the formula], ‘A life of three lifetimes...’, joining them with the middle, ring finger, and thumb: on the forehead with [the formula], ‘You are the drop of Brahmā’; on the head with ‘You are the drop of life’; on the chest with ‘You are the drop of prosperity’; on the throat with ‘You are the drop of faith’; on the navel with ‘You are the drop of intellect’; at the root of the right arm with ‘You are the drop of splendour’; on the left or on the back with ‘You are the drop of desire’; or on all limbs with ‘You are all desires.’ Then he should beg for alms. He should give those alms to the Brahmā priest. Dependent on the preceptor, he should remain silent. Then he should perform the wiping as prescribed on the middle limb. In the evening is the fire-rite. Then the feeding of brahmins; then the feeding of brahmins.

KauthGS 16: