Avimukteśvara

Avimukteśvara · avimukta-īśvara, “the lord of Avimukta”

Avimukteśvara is a sacred place in Kāśī. Sūta tells Śaunaka, in the Pratisarga Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, that in Kāśī lived a learned brāhmaṇa named Rāmaśarmā, devoted to the pūjā of Bhagavān Śaṅkara. At the time of Śivarātri, at Avimukteśvara, he kept vigil alone and with dhyāna performed japa of the Śiva Pañcākshara.

Bhagavān Śaṅkara, pleased, told him to ask a vara. Rāmaśarmā bowed to Bhagavān Śiva and asked that the devatā in whose dhyāna Bhagavān Śiva stays in samādhi might dwell in his heart. Bhagavān Maheśvara smiled and said: “I ever meditate on and worship Bhagavān Rāma-Lakshmaṇa and Balabhadra. Attain them and be happy.” So saying, Bhagavān Śiva withdrew, and Rāmaśarmā became an upāsaka of Bhagavān Rāma.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 19

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 19