Barkareśvara is a sacred spot and a Śiva Liṅga within Guptakshetra, at the Mahīsāgara Saṃgama. The Kaumārika Khaṇḍa links it closely with the Barkarika Tīrtha. It lies near the Bahūdaka Tīrtha. It is connected with Bālāditya, the child-sun form of Bhagavān Sūrya, who appeared at the Bahūdaka Kuṇḍa to enlighten the merchant Nandabhadra. The Barkarika Tīrtha and Barkareśvara together form a Śaiva and Saurya sacred place within Guptakshetra.

Location and connection

Barkareśvara lies within Guptakshetra, in the region of the Bahūdaka Tīrtha, near the Mahīsāgara Saṃgama. The Kaumārika Khaṇḍa notes the link between Bālāditya (the form Bhagavān Sūrya took when he appeared to Nandabhadra) and the Barkarika Tīrtha. This shows that the worship of the child-sun and the Barkareśvara Liṅga go together at this place.

The chapters do not tell separately how the Liṅga was installed. Its presence is named in the account of the wider sacred geography of Guptakshetra.

Sources

Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kaumārika Khaṇḍa, Chapter 46