Ritual

chaksuratatam'. He then salutes his guru while reciting the
following mantras:
touching his mouth:
om gurubhyo namah
touching the middle of his forehead:
om paramagurubhyo namah
touching the top of his head:
om paraparagurubhyo namah
touching the right side of his body:
om Ganesaya namah
With palms together touching the top of his head the sadhaka
says:
om Hum Hrim Siva-Saktibhyam svaha
Protection
Now follows the ritual of protective measures. The power of the
divinity is ritualized into each part of the body (anga-nyasa) in
order to form a protective circuit and activize the energy centres of
sadhaka's body. In the following mantra different parts of the body
are associated with various aspects of energy so that the entire
physical field of the adept is protected and revitalized. Mantras
uttered during the rite are so designed as to create appropriate
vibrations within the psychic field. The adept utters each mantra
three times, touching respective parts of his body with the thumb,
ring and middle fingers:
Hrim, may Adya (Primordial Energy) protect my head.
Srim, may Kali protect my face.
Krim, may the Supreme Sakti protect my heart.
May she who is the supreme of the supreme protect my throat.
May Jagaddhatri protect my two eyes.
May Sankari protect my two ears.
May Mahamaya protect my power of smell.
May Sarvamangala protect my power of taste.
May Kaumari protect the power of my teeth.
May Kamalalaya protect my cheeks.
May Ksma protect my upper and lower lips.
May Malini protect my chin.
May Kulesvan protect my throat.
Stamps for making auspicious signs
on the body before ritual worship.
South India, 19th century. Brass.
169