Mnemonic devices were much cultivated by Greek sophists and philosophers, and are repeatedly referred to by Plato and Aristotle.
Except that the rules of mnemonics are referred to by Martianus Capella, nothing further is known regarding the practice of the art until the 13th century.
An interesting work (Memoranda mnemonics) was published by James Copner in 1893, containing a system based partly on the use of letters for figures and words for dates, as well as a large number of rhymes for remembering facts in biblical, Roman, Greek and English history.
At verse 151, it is said, that when consecrating and partaking of the 10th cup Sadhaka should meditate on the Guru in the Sahasrara, on the Devi in the heart and have his Ishta Mantra at the tip of his tongue and think of his Oneness with Shiva (Shivo'hamity chintayan).
Verses 168/9 say that the Divya and the Vira should avoid the scriptures of the Pashus as they would another man's wife, Later on, it is said that the Kaula should not listen to Dharma from the mouth of a Pashu and he is degraded if he follows the ways of Pashu.
The corpse (Shava) should be (verses 87/9a) in a good state of preservation and that of a healthy man who was young, brave and good to look at and died in the battlefield facing the enemy; killed by a spear or sword, lightning, drowning or at the hands of the executioner.
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