Description of great initiation and code of conduct for initiated ascetics and Varnis:
Description of great initiation and code of conduct for initiated ascetics and Varnis:
Shri Narayan Muni said:-
O sons, now I shall tell you both, the ritual of higher initiation (Mahadiksha) of our Order (sect) to be given to the renunciates (belonging to twice born class). The preceptor should follow that very procedure strictly and not otherwise. 1.
One who wishes to get rid of the householder’s way of life due to intense dispassion, having faith and discrimination, desirous of freedom from worldly bondage. Such a person should perform his own after-death rites, according to the Shastra and should seek consent of his caste-brethrens and should himself surrender to the preceptor. 2-3.
Then the preceptor should keep the disciple with himself for some time and should put him to test, whether he is really worthy of being initiated as an ascetic. 4.
The preceptor then should see whether the disciple is fully fit as per the norms of necessary qualities and free from defects like squint, blindness or sloth, disease, etc. 5.
So also, the preceptor should examine the intensity of detachment on the part of the disciple, his behavior while being in company of group of Sadhus. 6.
The preceptor himself should find out whether the disciple’s relatives may or may not cause disturbance (in future) in his decision, 7.
If he finds that, such a disturbance is possible then he should send the disciple back to home. And even in absence of such disturbance, if the detachment of disciple is not strong then also he should send the disciple back to home. 8.
This way, being assured of the strength of his detachment and inclination to follow religious rules promptly, the preceptor should make some other renunciate under him, to perform the ritual of initiation. 9.
The Diksha (initiation) ritual should be performed on the Eleventh or Twelfth (Ekadashi or Dwadashi) day of the month. The disciple should observe complete fast on the day-before Diksha, as it is advised previously. 10.
The disciple should get shaved his armpits and genital organs and get his head tonsured except a lock of hair on the top of head (Shikha). The preceptor should perform the rituals accordingly with arrangement of Mandal diagram (Sarvotobhadra). 11.
Then the disciple should take a holy bath and put on white clothes. He then should perform worship of Radha Krishna’s with the help of Brahmin priest.
The preceptor should give him codpiece (kaupin), the upper and lower garments (pieces of cloth) and coverlet (Kantha) colored by red soil etc. to that one who has taken refuge in him.
And also a bowl (Bhiksapatra) to collect holy alms, pitcher, a string of Tulasi and then should make other renunciate Sadhu to put the four Pundra marks on the disciple’s body. 12 - 14
Then the preceptor should preach the Vaisnavi Gayatri Mantra, announcing the sage and the meter (Chand) of the Mantra, to the disciple who is sitting facing east and himself sitting facing north. 15.
The disciple should be given a single, new, sacred thread (Yajnopaveeta-Janoe), made of cotton with a knot in the name of his great preceptor of the linage (sect). 16.
The preceptor then should rename the disciple with name ending with word ‘Dasa’ and preach him the duties and rituals of an ascetic according to the religious code. 17.
The preceptor should instruct the disciple to study, the Bhagvadgita, daily according to his capacity; and other rites and rules as advised previously. 18.
Thus having initiated in the ascetic order, the disciple should prostrate before the preceptor and salute Vaishnava sages (renunciates). 19.
The disciple staying (in Gurukul) with his preceptor and other associate ascetics, should all the time follow the path of single minded devotion, should study the spiritual scriptures and serve his preceptor. 20.
The disciple should learn from the preceptor daily rituals and day after day being alert, should follow those, without fail. 21.
The disciple should all with his body, speech and mind, think of the good of his preceptor and be obedient to him like a cow is to cowherd. 22.
Though himself being Brahman (the highest spirit), he should always firmly mind himself to be the servant of the Lord and that wise one should never avoid to serve and associated with the devout fellowmen who love the Lord. 23.
He should respectfully serve the saints with pure mind; should calmly bear their abuses, contempt us remarks and such other gestures. 24.
He should please the sage with love, considering them as Narayan Himself and always be in their service untiringly.
He should not get upset and should endure scolding by the Sadhus, which will do good to him in the long; as a householder, who endures the censures of his own wife, children and others. 25-26.
In this way, foregoing his own willful behaviour; he should subjugate himself to the saints and devote himself exclusively to Shri Hari and thus attain salvation. 27.
Now I shall tell you the ritual of the Great Initiation to be conferred on the (other) renunciats who are devoted to Lord Vishnu (Satvatas, who have come to take shelter in Uddhava cult) 28.
Among those who have attained high degree of knowledge, detachment and devotion and also are firm in performing their religious duties and thus have attained maturity in short time or after long;
Moreover those also who are particular observing celibacy, restricted diet and that also not encouraging test; nonviolence, dedication to Guru and such other qualities;
Those, whose associates (who are in their service / related to them) are agreeable and good to him; and those who have studied the religious scriptures according to their capacity, are said to be worthy/ eligible to have this Great Initiation. 29 -31.
So also those who practice yoga with all its eight features, even though they lack in scriptural studies are said to be eligible. 32.
Any of such person who wish to have Great Initiation, should approach the preceptor; the preceptor also put him to test thoroughly and then only should initiate him. 33.
As instructed earlier having observed proper time, having performed worship, Homa and other rituals initiation should be given to a lifelong ascetic. 34.
Then, the preceptor should give him Kaupina (cod-piece) and white upper and lower wear to cover his body. 35.
Then the preceptor should give him a pair of Tulasimala (Tulasi strings) to wear round his neck and should stamp the Marks of conch (Shankha) and disc (Chakra) on his arms, as advised before. 36.
Then the preceptor should meditate on Shri Krishna in his heart and preach the great chant (Maha-mantra) to the disciple who is sitting before him with folded palms. 37.
Then the preceptor should give him new name (any of Lord Vishnu) ending with ‘Anand-Muni’ (like ‘Narayananada-Muni, Krushnanand-Muni’ etc) then the newly initiated renunciate should bow respectfully before the preceptor. 38.
Thus to the disciple who has taken refuge in him, the wise preceptor should preach the code of conduct as follows. ‘O, disciple, you should always follow eightfold celibacy.’ 39.
You should never look at a woman in human form, if at all you happen to look at a woman unknowingly, you should observe a fast. 40.
You should choose and worship daily some Shaligram Shila having auspicious marks, with whatever material available and with devotion. 41.
So also, according to your capacity, you should study the fifth canto (Skandha) of ‘Shrimad Bhagavata every day, unhurriedly, before taking meals and be particular about it. 42.
You should always take a limited food, should take only necessary sleep and should always behave with full devotion to the Lord. You should be unattached to worldly things and being resolved in your own Self, follow ‘Brhad-vrata (the vow of eight fold celibacy) firmly. 43.
You should strictly abide by all these and other rules of conduct prescribed for ascetics on my command as long as you are alive and you are on senses. 44.
The preceptor should thus instruct the disciple who has surrendered him. I have described here only some special features to be observed; all other rituals should be performed as advised before. 45.
O sons, I have narrated to you both, the ritual of initiation to be given to renunciates which was preached by my Guru Swami (Ramananda) and which is authorised by Shastras. Those renunciates and the celibates who have received initiation should visit holy places like Dwarika, etc. 46.
Thus ends the fifty-first chapter entitled, ‘Description of ritual of Great initiation (Mahadiksha), in the topic of Diksh ritual’ in the fourth Prakarana of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra. (the rules of the code of conduct). 51
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