Chapter 89 - Greatness of Kapālīśvara (Kapālin-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Thereafter, O beautiful lady, a devotee should go to the excellent shrine of Kapālīśvara. This is the third Rudra shrine. It is destructive of sins. It is stationed to the east of Nīlarudra and within a distance of seven bows to the west of Budheśvara.

You know, O goddess, that the fifth head of Brahmā was formerly cut off by me and the skull got struck up to my hand. I then came to the holy place of Prabhāsa and remained within the Kṣetra for a thousand years.

4. Nude as I was, I went on holding the skull and am hence remembered as Kapālin. O my beloved, for ten thousand years, the Liṅga was worshipped by me.

5. I had assumed the form of a Kapālin (holder of a skull). Therefore, I am remembered as Kapālīśa. By seeing and touching (me), all the sins of men are dispelled (by me).

6. O goddess, thousands of Gaṇas armed with tridents were engaged there by me to save people from evil-minded sinners.

7-10. Hence by making all efforts, a pilgrim should worship the great Lord Kapālin, devoid of ailments. After worshipping the Lord with the Mantra “tatpuruṣāya vidmahe” (Taitt. Āraṇyaka XVII, 4) etc., gold should be given to a Brāhmaṇa well-versed in the Vedas. All the sins acquired by the creature, ever since the nativity are dispelled by that Liṅga on being visited in the morning of the Ṣaḍaśīti holy hour.

Thus the sin-destroying greatness of Kapālī Rudra Deva, the third deity, has been succinctly spoken (to you), O lady of excellent countenance.