Kṛttivāseśvara is one of the most ancient and supreme Liṅgas of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī). It lies to the north-east of Maidagin. Bhagavān Śiva himself calls it “the head of all the Liṅgas” in Vārāṇasī.

The Liṅga arose from the body of the mighty asura Gajāsura, son of the asura Mahisha. Bhagavān Śiva pierced Gajāsura with his trident. Gajāsura then asked Bhagavān Śiva to wear his hide always. From this came the name Kṛttivāsas (clad in hide). Bhagavān Śiva then promised that Gajāsura’s body would become a Liṅga in Avimukta, the best destroyer of pāpa (sin). Next to the Liṅga lies the Haṃsa Tīrtha, and around it stand 10,200 Liṅgas.

The meeting with Gajāsura

Bhagavān Śiva was telling the account of Ratneśvara when a loud cry rose: “Save! Save!” The asura Gajāsura, son of the asura Mahisha, was coming against Kāśī. He was nine thousand yojanas tall and as many yojanas around. He crushed the Pramathas under his feet. Mountains crumbled under his arms, clouds caught in his hair, and his breath raised the tides in the oceans.

Bhagavān Śiva knew that nothing else could kill this asura. At once he struck him with his trident. Gajāsura was pierced and lifted high, but he was not afraid. He spoke to Bhagavān Śiva with devotion: “O Mṛtyuñjaya, death at your hands is good for me. I am now above you. This is my victory! And this death is auspicious.”

Two boons: the hide and the Liṅga

Bhagavān Śiva was pleased with Gajāsura’s courage and offered him any vara (boon). The asura asked for two things.

Wear my hide always. “O you who are clad in the quarters, wear this hide of mine, made holy by the fire of your trident. May it always be sweet-smelling, soft, pure and fine to wear.” From that day Bhagavān Śiva took the name Kṛttivāsas, the one who wears the hide.
Take the name Kṛttivāsas. From this time, Kṛttivāsas became one of the most honoured names of Bhagavān Śiva.

Bhagavān Śiva then gave Gajāsura a vara in return: “Your body, cast off in battle in the great holy spot Avimukta, will become my Liṅga here, the giver of moksha (liberation) to all. It will be known as Kṛttivāseśvara. It will be the śreshṭha (best) of all Liṅgas in Vārāṇasī.”

Its greatness

Bhagavān Śiva said: “I shall stay in the Kṛttivāseśvara Liṅga to bless all who stay in Avimukta.” He named the many kinds of people who will gain moksha easily through this Liṅga. They include Pāśupata ṛshis and Siddhas, people of the Kali age with foul minds, people who neglect the Sandhyā prayers, people who take forbidden food, and people overcome by māyā and delusion.

The Kāśī Khaṇḍa says: “Moksha which cannot be won easily elsewhere in thousands of births can be won at the Kṛttivāseśvara Liṅga in a single birth.”

The puṇya (merit) of worshipping Kṛttivāsas equals that of chanting the Mahārudra Mantras seven crore times.

Haṃsa Tīrtha: crows become swans

When Bhagavān Śiva lifted his trident from Gajāsura’s body, a great kuṇḍa (pool) formed at that spot. At the Caitra full-moon festival of Kṛttivāsas, a flock of crows fought over the rice that had been offered. The weaker crows were knocked into the kuṇḍa. They fell from the sky into it and were turned into swans (haṃsas) before the eyes of the crowd. From this the kuṇḍa took the name Haṃsa Tīrtha.

Those who bathe in Haṃsa Tīrtha and do the water rites there are cleansed at once, even of the worst pāpa.

The 10,200 Liṅgas around Haṃsa Tīrtha

Around Haṃsa Tīrtha stand 10,200 Liṅgas set up by great ṛshis. The Liṅgas named Kātyāyaneśvara and Cyavaneśvara mark the two ends of the series. Each of these gives spiritual powers to those who live in Avimukta.

Festival days

Māgha Kṛshṇa Caturdaśī (the fourteenth day of the dark half of Māgha): fast, worship Kṛttivāseśvara, and stay awake all night.
Caitra Pūrṇimā (the full-moon day of Caitra): hold a great festival around the Liṅga. One who does so never enters any womb again.

Kṛttivāsas at Kāśī

Chapter 69 of the Kāśī Khaṇḍa says that Kṛttivāsas came here of his own will from Ekambara (Bhuvaneśvara) and stays in the Kṛttivāsas Liṅga. Chapter 68 also gives this narrative.

Sources

Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapters 68–69.