Description by Shri Hari as to when Maha Diksha should be offered and when it should not be offered-
Description by Shri Hari as to when Maha Diksha should be offered and when it should not be offered-
Shri Narayan muni said:-
O sons, it is not advisable to confer Diksha when the preceptors of gods and demons: Guru and Shukra, have set or are in old stage or in premier stage; or when Guru is in its lower zodiac sign or in curved motion (Vakragati), ritual. 1.
As an exception to it, there is no objection if it is Prabodhini Ekadashi i.e. bright eleventh Tithi of Kartik, Janmashtami, Ramanavami, even if there is rise or set of Guru or Shukra. 2.
Neither the Guru should offer instructions about Shri Krishna Mantra, nor the student receive It during the intercalary month of Mala, i.e. Purusottama or Adhik Masa and in rainy (Varsha) season, except during Lunar or Solar eclipses. 3.
This prohibition of day, Tithi and month should not be taken into consideration during lunar and solar eclipse; since no other period is more auspicious than the eclipse period. 4.
There is no objection about Diksha in all Ekadashis and Dvadashis, free from the faults of rise and setting of planets. On these days, Diksha can be conferred at the Sangava period. 5.
It is preferably advised to confer the Diksha at famous sacred places, mentioned in the Puranas. After examining the disciple well, the Guru from the family of Dharmadeva should confer Diksha on him. 6.
The preceptor should test the religiousness of disciple, even for a period of one year; and then only he should confer Diksha, not otherwise. 7.
In case, the Guru confers Diksha to his disciple, without testing his ability, urge and religiousness, he will have to suffer the fruits of disciple’s sinful deeds; as the sin committed by minister accrues to the king, and the sin committed by wife accrues to her husband; so is this. 8-9.
Characteristics of disciple worthy for Maha Diksha- Therefore, the Guru should first put his disciple to test, vigilantly. I shall tell in brief, the characteristics of the disciple mentioned in the Shastras: 10.
He should be calm and of good character, of pure and clean mind, without any prejudiced opinions, should be faithful, religious; he should be unhasty, non-jealous; having urge for libration (Mumukshu); and truthful in speech. 11.
He should be educated in noble scriptures and lore as per his own capacity. He should possess enough money, for his day to day needs. He should be free from jealousy, towards anyone. 12.
He should know that, touch of widow is a great blemish. He should be away from sinful acts; and energetic, enthusiastic in penance.13.
He should never have committed any one out of five great sins (Panchamahapatakas), especially cow hunt, even in the past. He should not be ungrateful. 14.
He should never make any kind of differentiation, while taking meals, except in calamity. He must never be loose in observing religiousness. 15.
He should not take even a small thing without permission, even from his own brother, he should never be unfaithful and should not betray. 16.
He should not avoid to pay the promised amount to his servants, for their services which he gets from them. He should not save even a single farthing from that. 17.
He should not at all be greedy. He should be away from pride, anger and lust and he should be straight forward, kind in nature, forbearing, courageous and pure.
He should never be disturbed due to hunger, while observing vows etc. He should serve the pious good men diligently and should have conquered his senses. 18-19.
He should not be disciple of any lady. He should have not taken shelter of Kaula cult. He should be away from day-time sleep; and should be without faults. 20.
A man, who is disinterested in worldly matters and prone to engage himself in spiritual duties respectfully, is deemed to be eligible and qualified for receiving Diksha. 21.
Characteristics of a person unworthy for Maha Diksha The Guru should not confer Diksha on a disciple not having these qualities. Even if anyone possesses these qualities but is handicapped, the Guru should not confer Diksha on him. 22.
The persons, such as: blind, blind in one eye, a squint, lame, a hunch-back, a dwarf, cracked in lips, ears or nose etc; deaf, dumb, crippled with a withered arm (kuni);
physically disabled i.e. crippled, suffering from leprosy or tuberculosis, a sick and a dull witted; an evil doer, too old person, are not eligible for Diksha. 23-24.
O sons, such a preceptor who confers Diksha on an unqualified person forcibly, brings himself distress and defamation like one who makes a stone falls on his own feet. 25.
Thus ends the forty-seventh chapter entitled, ‘Description of the rules of the Initiation Ceremony (Diksha)’ in the fourth Prakarana of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra. (the rules of the code of conduct). 47
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