These pramāṇas show that an ācārya may appoint persons to perform initiations on his behalf during his lifetime but not afterwards.
- kutaścidasamartho vā mṛto vā deśikottamaḥ | śeṣaṁ samāpayedanyaḥ putro vā tadanujñayā | śiṣyo vā yadi vā brātā ṛtvikvā guṇavattaraḥ
- “If the foremost spiritual teacher is unable to continue the proceedings or has passed away for some reason, then another qualified person should complete the remaining duties. This could be his son, disciple, brother, or an officiating priest—provided they have the necessary qualifications and act with his permission.” – [pādma-saṁhitā 4.10.155]
- Note: This vidhi (regulation) is important, because it is specified ONLY for the case of a departed guru who is unable to complete the initiation or sacrifice started. To interpret this as extending to not merely completion but the performance of new proceedings has the fault of ativyāpti, an overly broad application of a rule or definition, including things that are not supposed to be included.
- [pañcasaṁskāravidhiḥ] cakraśaṅkhau samabhyarcya tattanmantraiḥ pratiṣṭhitau । pūrvaṁ svaguruṇā dattau svadīkṣāvasare dvijāḥ ॥ 286 ॥
- (Method of doing Pañcasamskāra): O brahmins! He [ācārya] shall worship the discus and conch, which are consecrated with the respective mantras, which were given to him formerly by his preceptor on the occasion of his initiation. – [Īśvara Saṁhitā 21.283-286]
- ācāryaḥ svayam ādāya niyukto vātha mantravit
- “The spiritual master himself performs the ceremony or engages a ṛtvik assistant (mantravit) to perform the ceremony” – [Bhāradvāja-saṁhitā 2.7-11]
- [pañcasaṁskāravidhiḥ] ataḥ śiṣyasya vai kuryātsaṁskārān pañca ca kramāt ॥ 283 ॥ tāpaḥ puṇḍrastathā nāma mantro yāgaśca pañcamaḥ । tatra tāpavidhānaṁ tu śṛṇudhvaṁ munipuṅgavāḥ ॥ 284 ॥ ācāryo vaiṣṇavān sabhyān pūjya teṣāmanujñayā । gatvā kuṇḍasamīpaṁ tu śiṣyeṇa sahito guruḥ ॥ 285 ॥ cakraśaṅkhau samabhyarcya tattanmantraiḥ pratiṣṭhitau । pūrvaṁ svaguruṇā dattau svadīkṣāvasare dvijāḥ ॥ 286 ॥
- (Method of doing Pañcasamskāra) 283b-292a. Then the (Acarya) shall do for the pupil the five sacraments in (their) order. Tāpa, puṇḍra, nāma, mantra and yaga, the fifth. O best sages! listen to the method of doing tapa. The Acarya shall worship the Vaisnavas, who are assembled there, and go, with their permission, to the fire-pit, along with the pupil. He shall worship the discus and conch, which are consecrated with the respective mantras, which were, O brahmins! give to him formerly by his preceptor on the occasion of his initiation.– [Īśvara Saṁhitā 21.283-286]
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