Chapter 98 - Greatness of Pṛthvīśvara (Pṛthvī-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the shrine well-known as Caṇḍeśvara. It is situated to the northwest of Someśa within a distance of sixty Dhanus. It is a divine Liṅga, O great goddess, and destroys all sins.

In an earlier Yuga, in the Svāyaṃbhuva Manvantara, at the beginning of Tretāyuga, it was installed by Pṛthivī (goddess Earth). In this previous Manvantara, O my beloved, the Liṅga was called Pṛthvīśvara.

4. Further, O my beloved, it was acquired by Candra. The Liṅga (came to be called) Candreśvara. It destroys sins like Brāhmaṇa-slaughter etc. It is conducive to the increase of merit.

5. On visiting the deity, O goddess, a man is rid of all the sins originating (committed) in the course of seven births. He becomes contented and blessed.

The Devī said:

6. How did that sin-destroying Liṅga come to be well-known as Pṛthvīśvara? How did it further become famous as Candreśvara, O my Lord. Do narrate this in detail. I am desirous of listening to it respectfully.

Īśvara said:

7. Listen, O goddess, I shall narrate the sin-annihilating story. On listening to this, a creature is rid of the three types of Karma-bondages.

8. O great goddess, the Earth became afflicted formerly by the burden of the Daityas. Slipping and going down suddenly, she became transformed into a cow.

9-10. Running about here and there, she could not get relief anywhere. She went on wandering from place to place for a hundred years. When a hundred years were completed, she reached the great holy spot well-known as Prabhāsa which destroys sins. It has been resorted to by Devas, Dānavas and Gandharvas.

11. Endowed with great devotion, she stayed in that great holy place and resolving in her mind she eventually installed the Liṅga.

12. When an extremely difficult penance was performed for a period of more than a hundred years, Lord Rudra became pleased and spoke to Dharitrī (Earth) these words:

13. “O fair lady Viśvaṃbharā (Earth), all the austerities have been performed quite well by you. O auspicious one, do not be grief-stricken. Your wish will become fulfilled.

14. Daityas will meet with destruction after being slain by Viṣṇu on the Earth. O extremely great lady, you will be relieved of the burden of Daityas.

15. This highly excellent Liṅga installed by you will be very famous after your name Dharitrī, all over the world.

16. I shall stay here, the great Lord, in the form of a Liṅga in every Kalpa dispelling sins of men.

17. Endowed with my eightfold Cosmic form I shall be present in this Liṅga for ever. I shall destroy all sins of mankind incurred during hundreds of previous births.

18. He who adores this Liṅga on the third lunar day in the dark half of the month of Bhādrapada, shall undoubtedly acquire the fruit of a thousand horse-sacrifices.

19. By worshipping this Liṅga alone, the fruit acquired shall be that of ablution in all the Tīrthas and giving all kinds of charitable gifts.

20. An area of about sixteen Dhanus all round is the extent of this holy place which grants salvation unto all living beings.

21-22. Living beings like even worms and insects that die within this range attain the highest goal. A person may gift away the golden Meru or the entire earth but he who adores Pṛthvīśa Liṅga is proclaimed as superior to both of them.”

Īśvara said:

23-26. After saying thus and granting the boons, the Lord vanished there itself. Ever since then, Śaṅkara became a deity with the name Pṛthvīśvara. Again in this Kalpa, well-known as Vārāhakalpa, Candra become debilitated once due to Dakṣa’s curse, O goddess. Śaśin fell on to the ground afflicted by phthysis. He came to the Prabhāsa Kṣetra on the shore of the ocean. On seeing the powerful Liṅga of great lustre named Pṛthvīśvara, he became engaged in worshipping it for a thousand years.

27-30. He performed a very terrible penance with only fallen leaves and water constituting his diet. Due to the greatness of that Liṅga, Śaśin became a delighter of everyone with his refulgence.

Therefore, the deity became Candreśvara. Due to the greatness of that Liṅga, Candra was rid of all sins. He obtained a very powerful Siddhi revealing a Sparśaliṅga. That deity in the form of a Liṅga they call Somanātha, the well-known deity.

Thus the greatness of the deity Candra has been briefly mentioned. If listened to, it destroys sins and grants health.