Listen, O wise one, to the tale as spoken in the sacred Brahma Purāṇa. The Supreme Lord, whose form is Brahma, proclaims: “I alone guide the wheel of time. I am the pacifier and cause of all beings’ endeavors. My self is rightly established in all creatures, O best of sages, yet none truly knows me, O foremost of Brahmins. “In every world, my devotees worship me everywhere. Whatever hardship you have experienced in me, O twice-born, is for the arising of happiness and your welfare, O sinless one. All that you perceive in this world, moving or unmoving, is established by me, the soul who fosters all beings. I am Narayana, bearer of conch, discus, and mace. “As long as a thousand ages pass, O sage among Brahmins, I sleep as the soul of the universe, deluding all worlds. Here, I am time in all things—even as an infant, I appear in infant form, until Brahma awakens. I have granted you, O foremost of Brahmins, the boon in the form of Brahma, repeatedly satisfied and honored by hosts of Brahmin sages. “When all that is stable and moving dissolved into a single ocean, you emerged, unknown to me; then the world was revealed to you. When you entered within my body and beheld the entire world, you were amazed and did not comprehend. Then, O best of sages, I swiftly expelled you from my mouth. My true nature is difficult even for gods and demons to know. “Until that blessed Lord Brahmā, great in austerity, becomes aware, O best of sages, you may dwell here confidently and happily. When the Grandfather of all worlds awakens, I alone will create all beings and bodies. Space, earth, fire, wind, water, and whatever else exists in the world, mobile or immobile, will be created here.” Having spoken thus, Mādhava addressed the sage again, his voice deep as thunder after a thousand ages: “O sage, tell me truly why you praised me. Choose the best boon, for I shall grant it to you without delay. You are long-lived among the gods, devoted to me, firm in your vows; therefore, O best of Brāhmaṇas, you shall again obtain long life.” Hearing these auspicious words and beholding the Lord, the sage bowed down, offering obeisance, and spoke: “O Lord of gods, I have seen your supreme form. This delusion has departed upon seeing you, O Hari. By your grace, I desire only this: for the welfare of the worlds and the pacification of disputes; and for the refutation of debates between Śaivas and Bhāgavatas, in this sacred and excellent field, O Supreme Person. “O God, I shall establish here a great and supreme shrine of Śiva, and likewise install Śaṅkara in your place. Then, in this world, people will know Hari and Īśvara as one form.” The Lord of the universe replied: “This supreme god, the cause and Lord of the worlds, this liṅga is for worship, for the pacification of disputes. By my command, O best of Brāhmaṇas, quickly establish a temple of Śiva; by its power, you shall abide eternally in the realm of Śiva. When Śiva is established, my own establishment is accomplished. There is no difference between us—one essence appearing as two. He who is Rudra is himself Viṣṇu; he who is Viṣṇu is Maheśvara. There is no difference between the two, just as between wind and space. “Deluded, one does not recognize that he who bears the banner of Garuḍa is the same as he who bears the bull-banner, the slayer of Tripura, the three-eyed one. Therefore, O brāhmaṇa, establish a temple of Śiva bearing your name; in the north, create a beautiful sacred place for the Lord of gods. The pond named Mārkaṇḍeya will become renowned among men; it will destroy all sins.” Having spoken thus, Janārdana, the all-pervading Lord, vanished before Mārkaṇḍeya, best of sages. Now, hear the sacred procedure for the five holy waters and the fruits gained by bathing, giving, and beholding the deity. One should go to the Mārkaṇḍeya pond, facing north, pure in body and mind, immerse three times in the water, and recite this mantra: “O slayer of Bhaga’s eye, O enemy of Tripura, I bow to you—rescue me, who am sunk in the ocean of worldly existence, seized by sin and unconscious. Salutations to Śiva, the peaceful one, remover of all sins; I bathe, O Lord of gods—may my sin be destroyed.” After bathing up to the navel, one should satisfy the deities, sages, ancestors, and others with water mixed with sesame, with a focused mind. Having bathed and sipped water as prescribed, one should go to the temple of Śiva, enter the shrine, and circumambulate it three times. With the root mantra, worship the Lord of Mārkaṇḍeya, O brāhmaṇas, and with the Aghora mantra, bow and propitiate him: “O three-eyed one, salutations to you; salutations to you, O wearer of the moon. Protect me, O Virūpākṣa, O great god, salutations to you.” Having bathed in the Mārkaṇḍeya pond and seen Śaṃkara, a man obtains the fruit of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices. Thus is the glory of the sacred field, the unity of Hari and Śiva, and the supreme merit bestowed upon the devotee.