Kālañjara is a sacred kshetra in the Vindhya range. Here Parameśvara slew Kāla himself to protect his devotee, the rājarshi (royal seer) Śveta. The name Kālañjara means “destroyer of Kāla” and recalls that event. The forest here is under Rudra’s own rule (Rudrādhipatya), and the gaṇas of Bhagavān Śiva always live in it.

Name and meaning

Kālañjara comes from the event at its centre. Kāla is time, or death. Parameśvara raised his left foot and destroyed Kāla with a single stroke. Kāla had come to take the rājarshi Śveta, even in Parameśvara’s presence. The place where Kāla was slain, and where liberation was given, bears the name of that destruction.

Kālañjara is a Rudrādhipatya vana, a forest that stands directly under the rule of Rudra. His gaṇas dwell here.

Śveta’s devotion and liberation

The rājarshi Śveta gave up his kingdom and came to Kālañjara to practise single-minded devotion to Bhagavān Śiva (Śivabhakti). For years he worshipped the Śivaliṅga here and never broke his stream of devotion.

At last Kāla came in a terrible form to claim him. Śveta held on to the Śivaliṅga and chanted the Śatarudrīya. He called on Parameśvara in pure prapatti (complete surrender).

Parameśvara appeared from the split sky in a mass of golden divine light, together with Devī Ambā. Kāla bound Śveta with the pāśa (noose) even in Parameśvara’s presence. Then Kāla went forward against Parameśvara himself. At that, Bhagavān Śiva raised his left foot and killed Kāla.

Śveta then offered a stotra of complete śaraṇāgati (taking refuge). It is kept as the Kālañjara Stotra. Parameśvara gave him gaṇāpatya (a place among the gaṇas of Bhagavān Śiva) and sārūpya (a form like his own).

The boon of the tīrtha

The Uttarardha says that those who come to Kālañjara with Śveta’s kind of bhakti will receive the same gaṇāpatya that Śveta received. This bhakti is single-minded devotion, complete śaraṇāgati, and the will to cling to the Śivaliṅga even in the face of death.

Sources

Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapter 35