The University of Nalanda c10.194

c10.194

The Sādhanas and their Mantras, however, could not be recited by any one who liked to do so. The prospective Tāntric must be properly initiated into the Tāntric practices through the right channel—viz. the guru. And no ordinary guru would do. He, in fact, must possess all the qualifications laid down in the Tāntric works.² His duty was to initiate the śiṣya; to give him different kinds of abhiṣeka, and then instruct him how to achieve the Siddhis.³ Likewise only that student could approach the guru for the knowledge of the Siddhis and Tāntric practices who had the requisite qualities.⁴