Chapter 90 - The Story of Pārvatīśa

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Agastya said:

1. O delighter of the heart of Pārvatī, narrate the origin of Pārvatīśa which has already been described by you as a dispeller of sins.

Skanda said:

2-4. O Agastya, Listen. Once Menā, the chaste wife of Himalaya spoke to her daughter, the daughter of the King of Mountains: “Do you know what is the native place of Śiva? Where is his residence? Who is his relative? Probably there is no relative and no home of the son-in-law anywhere.” On hearing the words of her mother, the daughter of the Lord of Mountains became very much ashamed. On getting an opportunity, Gaurī bowed down to Śaṃbhu and submitted:

5. “O Lord, O husband, certainly today I have decided to go to my mother-in-law’s house. I should not stay here. Take me to your own house.”

6. On hearing the words of the daughter of Himālaya (Pārvatī) thus, Giriśa who was aware of the reality, left Himālaya and came to his own Ānandavana.

7. On reaching Ānandavana, the cause of great bliss, the Goddess forgot the abode of her father and became one of the very form of bliss.

8. Then Gaurī intimated to Giriśa once: “How is it that in this holy spot here, there is a mass of continuous bliss? Kindly let me know.”

9-15. On hearing this speech of Gaurī, the Pināka-bearing Lord replied: “In this holy spot, the abode of salvation, extending over five Krośas, O Goddess, there is not a spot even as minute as a gingelly seed without a Liṅga. Around each of these Liṅgas, the ground to the extent of a Kṛośa too shall be the giver of bliss. O Goddess, here in this Ānandavana, the cause of great bliss, there are many Liṅgas in the form of highest bliss. By the contented and blessed people living in all the fourteen worlds, excess of contentment has been attained by making Liṅgas here after their respective names. Even Seṣa with his special knowledge does not know the extent of the welfare of a person by whom my Liṅga has been installed, O great Goddess. O Goddess, born of the Mountain, that is why this holy spot is the cause of great bliss which is beyond calculation due to the numerous Liṅgas.”

16-18. On hearing this the great Goddess bowed down to the feet of the Lord once again and cajoled him: “O Mahādeva, grant me permission to install my own Liṅga. Getting the permission of the husband a chaste lady attains welfare. There is no loss of her welfare even in Saṃvarta.” After propitiating the Lord of Devas and getting the consent of Maheśitā, the Liṅga was installed in the vicinity of Mahādeva by Gaurī.

19. By visiting that Liṅga all sins including Brāhmaṇa-slaughter will get dissolved. There is no doubt about it. There shall be no further bondage within a body.

20. O sage, listen to the boon granted by the Lord of Devas in respect to that Liṅga with a desire for the welfare of devotees.

21. At the death of the person who worships the Liṅga named Pārvatīśa, he will become a Kāśī Liṅga.

22-25. After becoming a Kāśī Liṅga he will enter me.

One who adores Pārvatīśa on the third lunar day in the bright half of Cakra, gets all fortune here and excellent goal hereafter. If the woman or man propitiates Pārvatīśvara, she or he will never enter a womb thereafter. She/he will attain all good fortune. If the devotee utters even the name of Pārvatīśa Liṅga, the (accumulated) sin of a thousand births perishes instantly. The excellent man who listens to the greatness of Pārvatīśa becomes a man of great intellect and obtains all the desires of this world as well as that of the other world.