History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c92.52.4

v7.c92.52.4

p 130 Pārānandasūtra¹⁶⁹⁹ prescribes that the disciple has to undergo *dīkṣā* (consecration) from a qualified guru, who instructs the disciple as to the mantra, who holds a mouthful of water in his own mouth and passes it into the mouth of the disciple that accepts the mantra while he gulps down the water. This procedure applies if the guru is a brāhmaṇa, but if the guru is a kṣatriya he should recite the mantra in the right ear of the disciple. The Tantrarāja-tantra provides that the guru should wait for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years according as the intending disciple belongs to the four varṇas or to a mixed caste, should test his qualities and devotion and then communicate to him the mantra; otherwise, both guru and disciple would come to grief (Tāntrik Texts, vol VIII. II. 37-38) Most works on Tantra provide that the knowledge conveyed by the guru and worship with five makāras must be kept secret and if made public falling in hell is the result. Vide Paraśurāmakalpasūtra I. 12 and Śaktisaṅgama-tantra¹⁷⁰⁰ After undergoing dīkṣā and receiving the mantra the disciple has to follow the orders of the guru till the former has a vision of the deity.¹⁷⁰¹ Guru is higher than all other men, mantra is higher than guru, the deity is higher than the mantra and the highest self is higher than the *devatā*. In order to attain *siddhis* the guru is to be served by disciples with devotion in all ways. There is only one way viz.