Ratneśvara is a svayambhū (self-born) Liṅga in Kāśī. It lies to the north of Kālabhairava. It was formed from a heap of jewels that Himavān, the king of mountains, left at this spot for his daughter Pārvatī.

Its root goes down to Pātāla and its light fills the sky. Chapter 67 of the Kāśī Khaṇḍa (Uttarārdha) calls it the “crest-jewel of all the Liṅgas”. The name Ratneśvara means lord of jewels. It gives the greatest jewel, which is moksha (liberation). The chapter also tells of Kālāvatī, a dancing girl who worshipped Ratneśvara by chance on Śivarātri and was born again as Ratnāvalī, daughter of the Gandharva king Vasubhūti. It tells of her daily devotion to the Liṅga, a direct vara (boon) from Bhagavān Śiva, and how her Gandharva friends found her husband with the help of a gallery of portraits drawn by Citralekha.

Origin of the Liṅga

Himavān came to Kāśī with a great treasure of jewels for his daughter Pārvatī. There were pearls, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, coral and many other gems. He put the whole heap down to the north of Kālabhairava and went back home. Because of the great puṇya of Himavān and the holiness of Kāśī, the jewels turned of themselves into a shining Liṅga that held all gems, bright like Indra’s rainbow. Its root went down to Pātāla, and its flames lit all the directions.

Bhagavān Śiva and Pārvatī came upon this Liṅga after visiting Śaileśvara. Pārvatī asked about it in wonder. Bhagavān Śiva said: “O fair lady, your father brought this heap of jewels here for you. Whatever is given with great faith in Kāśī bears fruit in this way. The jewels have become a Liṅga with my own form and features. It is the crest-jewel of all the Liṅgas here, and so its name is Ratneśvara. It gives the greatest jewel, which is moksha.”

At the word of Bhagavān Śiva, Pārvatī told the Gaṇas to build a golden mansion like the peak of Meru around it. It was finished in a single Yāma (three hours). (Chapter 67)

The phala of worship

Bhagavān Śiva told Pārvatī the phala (fruit) of worshipping Ratneśvara:

Even one who worships Ratneśvara by mistake becomes a king who rules the seven continents.
A single worship gives all things like jewels in all three worlds.
One who honours Ratneśvara without any wish becomes a Gaṇa of Bhagavān Śiva and sees him face to face.
The puṇya of worshipping Ratneśvara equals that of chanting the Rudra Mantras a crore times.
If someone has worshipped all the Liṅgas in the whole universe, the same is gained by honouring Ratneśvara alone.

(Chapter 67)

Kālāvatī worships by chance and is born as Ratnāvalī

The Purāṇa tells of a dancing girl named Kālāvatī. In the month of Phālguna she spent the night of Śivarātri at the Ratneśvara temple. She played music, sang and danced before the Liṅga, keeping one vigil through the whole night. She went home and died soon after. Because of the puṇya of her music, her dance and her night vigil before the great Liṅga, even though she had no clear aim, she was born again as Ratnāvalī, daughter of Vasubhūti, the Gandharva king. She had great beauty, skill in all the fine arts, and sweet speech.

Ratnāvalī’s daily vow

Because of the impressions left by her worship in the past life, Ratnāvalī took a vow: “Only after I visit the jewel-Liṅga of Ratneśvara in Kāśī each day will I speak a word.” Every day she visited Ratneśvara with her three friends, Śaśilekha, Anaṅgalekha and Citralekha. Once she sang sweetly before the Liṅga, and her friends had gone to walk round it. Bhagavān Śiva then appeared from within the Liṅga and gave her a vara: “He who has a name like yours and will be with you this night will become your husband.”

Later she could not tell who her unknown night visitor was. She had Citralekha paint portraits of all the young men of the three worlds. When she saw the portrait of the nāga prince Ratnacūḍa, signs of clear recognition showed in her. Citralekha said that Ratneśvara had brought about this union. On their way home they were stopped for a time by the Dānava Subāhu, who tried to carry off the four friends. They were saved through the grace of Ratneśvara himself. (Chapter 67)

Sources

Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 67.