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Lord Prayogamanjari: Tantric literature in kerala

Initiation in pre-Tantrasamuccaya tantric literature
Prayogamañjarī
The author of the Prayogamñjarī (PM) is a Ravi who is born in mammannu family of brahmins. PM is said to be written between the 10th and 11th century A.D. In 21chapters it deals with the topics ācharaya parigraha. bhuparigraha, vastuyaga, lingalaksana, diksha, ankuraropana, istakanyasa, garbhadhana, prasadalaksna, sitalaksana, jaladhivasa, raksoghnahoma, snapana and jurnodharavidhi respectively. The initiation is described in the 9th chapter in connection with installation ritual. Here the author remarks that only an initiated can do such rituals and hence its process is going to be discussed in detail.26 Notable features are as follows.

$ Initiation of two kinds 1.mumuksudiksha- that which leads to liberation and 2. Adhikāradī- that qualifies someone to observe consecration rituals.

# Those who assist guru in rituals must be initiates.28

# Silent on who is eligible for dīksha among four castes.

# No specific mantra is mentioned to be imparted at the time of initiation.