Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c10.s1.29

c10.s1.29

Testing of the disciple for one year; the disciple's prayer for Dīkṣā, and lying down by the side of the Guru on the bright tenth day of the month of Kārttika; determination of the good or bad effects of Mantra by the nature of dreams dreamt by the disciple; fasting on the next Ekādaśī day and visiting the temple on the next Dvādaśī morning after a bath; the drawing of a mystic Maṇḍala, Soḍaśāra or Navanābha Cakra (circle having sixteen spokes or nine naves), or an eight-petalled lotus; worship of Viṣṇu with other deities; placing of eight pitchers in eight directions with a ninth dedicated to Viṣṇu; sprinkling of the disciple with water from one of the nine pitchers, preferably from the ninth; making him enter the Maṇḍala (mystic circle) with his eyes covered, and purifying him with Bhūta-śuddhi and Tattva-nyāsa; performing of Homa with the incantation oṃ namo bhagavate viṣṇave sarva-rūpiṇe hum svāhā, and of the various Smārta Saṃskāras or sacraments; uncovering the eyes of the disciple and whispering the Mantra into his ears; and lastly, the offer of Dakṣiṇā to the Guru.