It is necessary that the aspirant should seek a proper Guru for his initiation (from the Parasurama Kalpasutra).

tatra sarvathâ matimândhîkshêta

The imperative need for a suitable Guru in such matters and the way to approach him are laid down in the Sruti itself, "To realise the truth one should approach the Guru, sacrificial fuel in hand etc".

tadvignânârtham sa gurumêvâbhigachêtsamitpânihi shrôtriyam brahmanishttam |

as emphasised in the Smritis, Purânas and other works. Approaching the Guru he should, after respectful obeisance in proper form, express his object and clearly indicate his firm determination to abide by the Guru's injunctions with implicit faith. The Guru satisfied with his sincerity, will then accept him and arrange for his initiation. In fact as observed by Srî Sankarâchârya in his commentary on Lalitâ Trisatî, the benignant look of the Guru itself is an integral part of initiation, and is calculated to ward off the impediments in the aspirant's way, the subsequent reciting of the mantra and constant contemplation thereon setting him forward on the path of self-realisation without further difficulty.

sukhasâdhana gurukripapângâvalôkanarûpadîkshâvashêna pratibandhakadhuritâpagamê paradevatâ rûpahrîmkâraha, chirakâlanairantarya bhâvanâprakarshêna tasminnabhimukhê sati tallakshyârtharûpa paramânanda chitkalâ swayamêvâbhivyaktâ satî ânandhânubhavâmrutêna sukhayati |

This initiation by the Guru is called Dîksha and is described as the first step in the ladder leading to the top floor of the mansion of Mukti (liberation).

muktisoudhasya sôpânam prathamam dîkshânam bhavêt |

Etymologically too, the word Dîkshâ is construed to mean "that by which the fetters (of samsâra)are destroyed and identity with Brahman is secured".

dîyatê shivasâyujyam kshîyatê pâshabandhanam |
atô dîkshêti kathitam budhaihi sachchâstravêdhibhihi ||