Guru Shishya Relation in Tantric Practices is a part of the various traditions of Hindu religion. Some common essentials in this relationship are:
* Institution of a teacher - student relationship.
* This relationship is given a formal recognition. This is a structured initiation ceremony where the guru accepts the start as a shishya as well as accepts responsibility for the pious well-being and progress of the new disciple.
* Sometimes this process includes conveying specific obscure wisdom and meditation techniques.
* Gurudakshina is a custom where the gives a gift to the guru as a token of gratitude.
A living preceptor who has already walked the path successfully is essential for Tantric practice. The Diksha rite in which the Guru transmits something of himself to the Shishya often manifests the awareness in the disciple. This relationship is very intimate and needs to be so if the Shishya needs success. To become a Tantric Sadhu one needs to receive first the Sadhu initiation from one who is already initiated as a Sanyasin. This is the initiation of renouncing the world where the disciple repeats the Praisha Mantra after the Guru. Once this Mantra has been chanted the Sadhu must never again return to family life in this birth. A householder who follows the path of Tantra takes Guru Diksha from any Tantric Guru.
The wife must take Diksha from the same Guru. Due to the nature of Tantric initiation they take this Diksha at different times. In Tantric mode this initiation is a complicated procedure which is divided into several stages. While performing Tantric rites a person should seek the help of his guru. A person endowed with the following virtues can be a Shishya: quiet, modest, pure, respectful, meritorious, capable of doing various jobs, born in a good family, wise, possess good character, pious, self-restrained, charitable and given to meditation. Implicit obedience to the guru is meant, the desertion of guru is condemned. In the tradition of Tantra a Shishya is allowed to desert his guru who proves to be incompetent.
Persons of the following character cannot be a disciple: Sinful, cruel, wicked, miserly, mean, devoid of good conduct, hates mantra, speaks poorly, foolish, hates holy places, no respect for guru, have an impure heart, idle, boastful, poor, diseased, addicted to pleasures of sense, jealous, possessed of ill-got wealth, having relation with another man`s wife, hostile to the learned people, pedantic, earning livelihood with great trouble, highly ambitious and condemned by people. In Mahanirvana, brahma-diksa is considered as the highest form of initiation. People of any castes are eligible to become a disciple.
