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disciples who are connected in a way with the pure world, achieving
freedom either after death or still in this life, are named "spiritual
sons" (putraka). The third category of disciples called "adepts"
(sadhaka) aims at propitiation and they could obtain freedom either
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gradually during the life or after death. The last category of subjects
is that of masters (acarya); they have reached self-awareness, being
immersed in the divine nature which is expressed by the five supreme
operations. In so far as they are tantamount to Siva, the masters have
the ability to bestow fruition and freedom. The four degrees of diminish-
ment of power analysed above in a certain succession could also be taken
for independent manners in regarding the supreme freedom and the modality
in which it is realized (TA, XIII, 296b-300a).
Usually, in the Saivite tantric schools the
qualification as a master is received after passing through three
previous stages of the disciple. The master who misleads his disciple
towards distorted knowledge must submit to recovery-rites (prayascittam)
and he is deprived of any qualification (adhikara) in the Saivite schools.
In his turn, the disciple who, desiring certain fruition, allows himself
to be drawn on a wrong way, will be tortured in hell for the sin of
following a mischief-making master (TA, XIII, 309-310). The encounter of
a disciple with such a master is an effect of Siva's obscuration; a bad
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preceptor is not a token of diminishment of worldly power, but of
obscuration. Becoming aware of the incapacity of the chosen master, the
disciple must perform the rite of purloining the knowledge. He will
abandon afterwards that preceptor, devoting himself to right knowledge.