Dhavaleśvara is a Śivaliṅga on the northern bank of the Śābhramatī, in the holy village of Indragrāma. Indra set it up after he was freed from Brahmahatyā (the pāpa of killing a brāhmaṇa) by bathing here. He had incurred it by killing the brāhmaṇa-born asura Namuci with sea-foam.

The name Dhavaleśvara means “Master of Whiteness” or “Master of Brilliance”. It recalls the white lustre, like that of the moon, that appeared on Indra’s body when he was cleansed here. The liṅga has a different name in each yuga: Nīlakaṇṭha in the Kṛtayuga, Hara in the Tretāyuga, Śarva in the Dvāparayuga and Dhavaleśvara in the Kaliyuga.

Origin

Indra, king of the devas, had agreed with the asura Namuci that he would not kill him with any ordinary weapon. A divine voice urged Indra on, and he killed Namuci with sea-foam. But this was the killing of a brāhmaṇa, since Namuci was counted among the asuras of brāhmaṇa birth. Bṛhaspati guided Indra to the northern bank of the Śābhramatī, and he bathed there. His pāpa was destroyed at once. A white lustre, like the full moon, appeared on his body. He then set up the Dhavaleśvara liṅga at this place in Indragrāma. The Padma Mahā Purāṇa tells this in the Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 151.

Names in the four yugas

Kṛtayuga: Nīlakaṇṭha (“the blue-throated one”)
Tretāyuga: Hara
Dvāparayuga: Śarva
Kaliyuga: Dhavaleśvara (“Master of Whiteness”)

Rites and their merit

A śrāddha done at Dhavaleśvara on a full-moon day, a new-moon day, Saṃkrānti or a day of eclipse satisfies the ancestors for twelve years. Feeding one brāhmaṇa here is equal to feeding a thousand. Pūjā with bilva leaves brings dharma, worldly things and pleasures of the senses. Worship on a Monday is especially powerful to remove disease. Bhagavān Śiva at Dhavaleśvara is especially pleased by offerings of śvetārka flowers.

The hunter Mahākāla

The best-known narrative of Dhavaleśvara is that of the hunter Mahākāla. He came upon the liṅga by chance and, without meaning to, did a sincere act of pūjā. He sprinkled water from his mouth on it, offered bilva leaves and deer flesh, and said, “You are my master.” In the end he was raised to be the gatekeeper of Bhagavān Śiva at Kailāsa. This narrative is told together with that of Nandin.

Sources

Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 151