Except for Rahu, the great and wise son of Simhika, none among the Daityas managed to partake of the divine nectar. Rahu, using his cunning, assumed the form of a god and mingled among the Maruts, holding a vessel as if he were one of them, intent on drinking the sacred Soma. But the radiant Sun, ever watchful, recognized Rahu despite his disguise and quickly informed Soma about the Daitya hiding among the gods. Learning of this, Soma nevertheless handed the nectar to Rahu, who had so convincingly taken the form of a god. Yet, Soma did not keep this act secret—he reported the matter immediately to Vishnu. Without delay, Vishnu raised his mighty discus and, with a swift stroke, severed the head of the Daitya who had just tasted the nectar. But, O child, due to the nectar’s power, Rahu’s head became immortal. The headless body, now deprived of its crown, fell to the earth, landing on the southern bank of the river, still touched by the nectar’s essence. O tiger among sages, that body shook the ground near the Gautami River, and, wondrous to behold, even without its head, it too became immortal. The body yearned for its head, and the head longed for its body; thus, both parts of Rahu, through the nectar’s power, became immortal and exceedingly strong. When the head and body were united, Rahu began to devour all the gods, threatening the very order of the cosmos. Alarmed, the gods realized the danger and resolved that the body lying on the earth must be destroyed before it could reunite with the head. In great agitation, all the gods approached Shankara, the compassionate protector of those who seek refuge, and pleaded, “O best of gods, destroy the Daitya’s body lying on the earth. Do this so that the body may never be joined again with the head.” Hearing their prayers, the Lord sent forth his supreme power, the goddess who is his very essence, accompanied by the Mothers, the protectresses of the worlds. Endowed with the Lord’s might and bearing his weapon, the goddess went to where the body lay, intent on devouring it. The gods, comforting her, ensured that only Rahu’s head remained on Mount Meru, while the goddess’s own body remained nearby. For many years, she battled fiercely at that place. During this time, Rahu spoke to the gods, saying, “Having pierced my body before, the finest essence remains here; let it be drawn out from the body. If the supreme, excellent nectar is separated from the body, it will instantly be reduced to ashes. Therefore, let this be done first.” The gods, enemies of the demons, were pleased with Rahu’s words and honored him, proclaiming, “You shall become the planet among planets, filled with joy.” By the command of the gods, the goddess-power, called Īśvarī, pierced the demon lord’s body, endowed with divine power. Swiftly, Ambika extracted the supreme nectar and placed it outside the body, then began to devour the body itself. She, known as Kālarātrī and Bhadrakālī, of immense might, placed the supreme essence, the best of all essences, in that spot. The essence, thus set, flowed forth and became a river; the nectar, drawn out and placed there, she did not consume. Thus arose the supreme and auspicious river Amṛtā, born from Rahu’s body and endowed with Rudra’s power. This lovely and supreme river Amṛtā began to flow, and there appeared five thousand holy places of great merit along its course. At that sacred site, Śambhu himself stood, always worshipped by all the gods. The gods, filled with joy, offered worship separately to both the goddess and the river. With glad hearts, they granted the goddess boons: “As Śambhu, lord of the gods, receives worship throughout the world, so too shall you be worshipped. O goddess, dwell here for the good of all worlds. Remain always, O mistress of the essence, bestower of all accomplishments to all. By praise, by recitation, by meditation, you grant all desires; those who worship you with devotion, seeking anything, always bow to you. All their undertakings succeed by your command, for here is the eternal abode of Śiva and Śakti.” Therefore, sages call that place the City of Abode, for it was there that the delighted gods granted supreme boons to the goddess. The confluence of the Gaṅgā, renowned and beloved of the gods, is there; whoever bathes at this sacred place attains either the highest enjoyment or even liberation itself. Whatever is desired in the mind, even that which is difficult for the gods to attain, is surely granted here. Having bestowed such blessings, the gods departed. From that time onward, this sacred place became known as the foremost confluence, sanctified by the Lord of gods and the power set in motion there. The river herself is famed as immortal, and thus is the foremost of great rivers. Now, let me tell you of the confluence called Vṛddhāsaṅgama, where Vṛddheśvara Śiva abides—a tale that destroys sin. Listen well. Gautama, known as Vṛddha, was a sage of great austerity. He had a son who, though twice-born, was born without a nose, bearing a deformed appearance. Out of dispassion and shame, the boy wandered from place to place, visiting sacred sites, but avoided his teacher and did not study with other disciples. Nevertheless, his father Gautama, out of compassion, initiated him. Thereafter, Gautama too set out to wander. Over time, the young Gautama lived sustained only by reciting a measure of the Veda, but he did not study further. At that time, he did not practice the scriptures, but, steadfast in his vows, he performed the fire ritual each day. By reciting only the Gāyatrī, he bore the name of brāhmaṇa; his sole practices were worshipping the fire and reciting the Gāyatrī.