Chapter 14 - Greatness of Siddheśvara (Siddha-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Pulastya said:

1. Then, O best of kings! one must visit the place of supreme God Siddheśvara. He is the giver of fulfilment to living beings. This was founded by a Siddha long ago.

2. A Siddha (accomplished one) by name Viśvāvasu had practised penance here for many years and had set up the idol of Śiva here.

3. He had won over anger, arrogance and all sensuous actions. Then after a thousand years Śaṃkara, i.e., the God having the bull on His emblem came to his sight on His own in the form of a king.

4-5. The great God Mahādeva in the form of King said: “I have come to this earth to give you a boon. You can ask for any auspicious boon in your mind. As I am pleased, I shall grant you the same even if that may be difficult to attain”.

Viśvāvasu said:

6. O best king! let there by fulfilment of desires of people by the grace of Śaṃkara after bearing this worshipable Liṅga in the mind with all certainty.

Pulastya said:

7. After saying ‘let it be so’ Śiva then disappeared from sight there. Since then thousands of people have attained fulfilment after going to the Siddheśvara temple.

8. By the influence of the worshipable Liṅga all desires have been fulfilled. Therefore, all righteous actions have disappeared from the surface of the earth.

9. Neither anyone has any need to perform sacrifice (Yajña) nor has to make any offering as charity. By Siddheśvara’s courting of God’s favour like this, humans on earth can be equally entitled to reach that stage of fulfilment.

10. O virtuous king! with the uprooting of Yajñas and charity, all gods along with Indra became unhappy.

11. Learning about the destruction of the Yajña, Indra put across his weapon thunderbolt as an impediment so that fulfilment could not be attained.

12. Even then, with the place being in proximity of Siddheśvara there, O best king, all actions meet with fulfilment and all sins get destroyed there.

13. O king! One who touches this, on the fourteenth day either during the waxing period or the waning period of the moon in the month of Pauṣa (i.e., January), that man becomes a Siddha (accomplished).

14. Even today also Siddhi (fulfilment) happens there. I have told this truth to you. Therefore, Sadgati (a good or happy state) can be possible (for you) by going and bowing down there.