Dugdheśvara is a Śivaliṅga on the bank of the Śābhramatī, at the place where the ṛshi Dadhīci Bhārgava gave up his life in yoga so that the devas could have his bones for the Brahmaśiras weapon. After the devas had made their weapons and gone, Surabhi, the divine cow that grants all wishes, poured out her milk at the spot where Dadhīci had died. Indra had called her to lick the body clean. By the power of the great ṛshi, the milk took the form of a Śivaliṅga. This is Dugdheśvara, “Master of Milk”. The tīrtha lies at the holy meeting of the rivers Candrabhāgā and Śābhramatī.

Origin

The devas were hard pressed by the asura Vṛtra and could not get back the great weapons they had left with Dadhīci. They came, with Bṛhaspati, to his āśrama at the meeting of the Śābhramatī and the Candrabhāgā. They asked Dadhīci for his very bones. Dadhīci agreed at once: “I have drunk the weapons; take them properly.” He then sank into yoga and left his body.

The devas could not cut up the body. So Indra called Surabhi, who licked the body until only bones were left. The devas made the Brahmaśiras weapon from his backbone. At the spot where the brāhmaṇa had died, Surabhi poured out her milk of her own accord. By the power of the ṛshi’s stored-up tapas (austerity), the milk set into the form of a Śivaliṅga. This is Dugdheśvara. The Padma Mahā Purāṇa tells this in the Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 155.

Where it lies

Dugdheśvara lies to the south of Khadgadhāreśvara, on the bank of the Śābhramatī where the Candrabhāgā joins it. The Purāṇa calls this meeting of rivers supremely meritorious. It says that snāna (bathing), dāna (gifts), japa (the muttering of mantras), pūjā and tapas done there all become inexhaustible by the power of Dugdhatīrtha.

Greatness

Bathing here and seeing Bhagavān Śiva as Dugdheśvara takes away at once the pain that comes from pāpa. The greatness of this tīrtha has no equal, and merely hearing of it destroys pāpa. Those who listen with devotion to the greatness (māhātmya) of Dugdheśvara are freed from pāpa and reach the high station of Rudra.

Sources

Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 155