Seal of the initiation State Tutor, Yuan Dynasty,
gray jade seal with a dragon knob

Abhiseka (esoteric baptism) was a ritual used in ancient Indian when kings succeeded to thrones or crowned princes were established. It symbolizes pouring "water from four oceans" onto the top of a king's head to congratulate him. Later on, Esotericism followed this method. Masters will baptize people and pour pure water onto the tops of their heads before they become monks or Acaryas (religious teachers). The title of "Initiation State Tutor" in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties was the most honorable one conferred by royal families upon Tibetan eminent monks, and all jade seals bestowed upon them can prove this. It is recorded in Sa-skya Pedigree that Nam-mkhav-legs-dpal (1305-1343), Ta-dben Kun-dgav-blo-gros (1338-1399) and Kun-dgav-rin-chen (1331-1399) were also conferred upon this title. This seal was inscribed with "Seal of Initiation State Tutor" in the vPhags-pa script.