32 - The greatness of Varanasi - The Glory of Omkāreśhvara and Kruttivāseshvara Lingas

There are hundreds of Lingas at Varanasi. But SK. P. IV (Käshikhanda) 73.32-36 enumerates 14 out of these as Mahalingas, Omkāreśhvara and Kruttiväseśhvara are included in that and Yatra to them every month is recommended (SK. P. IV. 73.39). 

Sūta said: 

1. The intelligent preceptor, sage Dvaipāyana, surrounded by his disciples, went over to the splendid and huge Linga Omkāra that bestows salvation. 

2. After worshipping Mahādeva, there, alongwith his disciples, the great sage recounted its greatness to the sages whose souls are purified by meditation. 

3. This is that stainless Linga Omkāra by name. It is very splendid. By its sheer memory, one is released from all sins. 

4. It is here that the excellent supreme knowledge of five Ayatanas (five-faced Shiva?), capable of granting absolute emancipation from Samsāra, has been always worshipped by the sages. 

5. Here the glorious Lord Rudra, god Mahadeva himself who has assumed five-bodied (Panchāyatana) form and who bestows Moksha on living beings, sports. 

6. What is mentioned as the knowledge pertaining to Pashupati and which has five topics or imports is this stainless Linga situated at Omkāra. 

7. The five topics are super-quiescence, supreme peace, knowledge, stability and cessation. These five are the five aspects of the Linga of Ishvara. 

8. The Linga designated as Omkāra is called Pañchāyatana (having five abodes) as it is the support of the five deities viz. Brahma and others. 

9. If at the time of death, one remembers the Linga pertaining to Iśhvara, the unchanging Panchāyatana Linga, one enters the Supreme light and bliss. 

10. Formerly, the celestial sages, the Siddhas and the Brahmanical sages had worshipped Lord Iśhāna here and had attained thereby the greatest region (viz. Mokşha). 

11. O prominent Brāhmaṇas, on the bank of Matsyodarī, there is an excellent place, the secretmost, auspicious spot of the extent of a Gocharma known as the excellent Omkāra. 

12-13. O excellent Brālmanas! In Varanasi the following are the secret Lingas viz. Kruttivāsa, excellent Madhyameshvara, Viśhveśhvara, Omkāra and the fine Kapardīśhvara. Nobody can know the secret (Lingas) except through the grace of Shambhu.” 

14. After saying this, the great sage, Krishna, the son of Parāśhara, went to see the Kruttivāseśhvara Linga of the Trident-bearing Lord. 

15. After worshipping it along with his disciples, the holy sage, the most excellent among the knowers of Brahman, mentioned the greatness of Kruttivāsas¹ (the deity wearing elephant hide) to the Brāhmaṇas. 

1. For derivation see the legend in VV. 16-18. For its glory cf. NP. II. 49.6-10, Pd. P. I. 34.10. In fact, KP.VV. 3-29 in this chapter are practically the same as Pd. P. I. 34.1-25. 

16. "Formerly a Daitya assumed the form of an elephant in this place and came near Bhava (Shiva) to kill those Brāhmaṇas who worship the lord here everyday. 

17. O Excellent Brāhmaṇas, in order to protect those devotees, the three-eyed Mahādeva, favourably disposed to the devotees, appeared out of the Linga. 

18. Contemptuously Hara killed the Daitya of the form of an elephant with his trident. Its hide he made his robe. Hence the lord is Kruttivāseśhvara. 

19. O leading sages, the sages attained the greatest Siddhi here. They attained the greatest region with their own body. 

20. Those who are glorified as Vidya, Vidyeśhvaras, Rudras and Shivas surround the Kruttivāseśhvara Linga forever, and abide here. 

21. There is no doubt about this that those persons who realize that this Kaliyuga is terrible and full of evil do not leave Kruttivāsa and achieve their highest object in life. 

22. In other places, salvation may or may not be attained in the course of a thousand births. But at the shrine of Kruttivasa, salvation is obtained in the course of a single birth. 

23. They say that this abode is the place of residence of all Siddhas. It is protected by Mahādeva, Shambhu, the lord of Devas. 

24. In every Yuga, the Brāhmaṇas of self-control, the masters of the Vedas, worship Mahādeva. They perform the japa of the Shatarudriya Mantra. 

25. Meditating in their hearts on Sthāņu, Shiva, who is present within everyone, they forever eulogize the three-eyed Mahadeva. 

26. Siddhas verily sang songs to those Brāhmaṇas who have resided in Varanasi and seek refuge in Kruttivāsa. 

27. After securing the birth in the families of the Brāhmaņas very rare in the world and liked by all the worlds, the ascetics have recourse to meditation, perform the Japa of Rudra and meditate on Mahesha in their minds. 

28. The leading sages in Varanasi propitiate the lord and the Ruler. Without attachment and desire, they perform Yajñas, eulogise Rudra and bow down to Shambhu. 

29. Obeisance to Bhava of pure emotions and splendour, I resort to Sthāņu, Girisha, the ancient deity. I remember Rudra who has entered my heart. I know that Mahādeva of many forms."