तन्त्रसार (महामाहेश्वर अभिनवगुप्त - तन्त्रालोक का प्रामाणिक सार-संग्रह सटीक)

lii
viz, saṁskāra, the tight to yoga, perfection in yoga and
finally liberation, or in another way initiation, Saṁskāra,
perfection in mantra, worldly and other worldly bhoga and
finally liberation.
It should be remembered that the highest kind of know-
ledge is obtained from holy texts. One who is uninitiated is
not considered to be the right person to receive Śāstra,
therefore dīkṣā is essential. But those who have received
the highest kind of grace and thus earned worthiness do not
require any formal dīkṣā, for the innate knowledge serves
as dīkṣā for them. But to those who are unable to follow
the path of knowledge easier path is recommended. It is
predominantly of ritualistic nature.
Snāna, bathing, is the preliminary step to dīkṣā. Gene-
rally bathing cleanses impurities of the body, but esoterically
it helps one to get absorption in Parameśvara. Ordinarily
bathing is performed with water but according to this system
it is a little bit different. One who goes to take a bath
should think of the presence of Śiva in eight forms. By
uttering a mantra one should perform one's bath with eight
prescribed objecsst. Bathing is of two types, external and
internal. The former is done by earth, water and the sacred
ashes etc, but the internal is preformed by one's concentration
( dhāraṇā ) in various locations of the body. The object
with which one performs one's bath is charged with a
mantra and thus helps the body to become steady, well-
refreshed and removed of impurities.
XIII
The author describes in this chapter about the procedure
of worship to be performed in the hill-top, river bank and