After the destruction of Lankā and the defeat of the hosts of demons through her grace, Gautama, by worshipping the supreme Lord, attained the refuge of Śiva, the matted-haired one. She, the goddess, is the universal mother who bestows all desired blessings, destroys all inauspiciousness, and purifies the world with unrivaled skill. She is the manifest source of all rivers, the divine Savitrī herself. Hearing the king’s words, all the monkeys immediately plunged into the sacred waters and performed worship according to the prescribed rites, each bringing countless flowers and offerings gathered from across the worlds. After duly worshipping Śarva, the king praised him with words expressing every sentiment, and the delighted monkeys danced and sang in joy. That night, surrounded by loving companions filled with affection, the great-souled king rested in happiness, all sorrow from enemies having vanished. Truly, what suffering can remain for one who serves the holy Gautamī? With wonder, he gazed upon his assembly of attendants and joyfully praised the Godāvarī. Honoring his entire retinue, Rāma experienced a happiness beyond compare. Still unsatisfied at that sacred place, Rāma declared, “Let us remain here for some time. Let us stay four more nights, and then we shall return to Ayodhyā.” The monkeys agreed, and after worshipping the Lord, ruler of all, for four more nights, they proceeded to the holy place beloved of Rāma’s brother. There stood the renowned Siddheśvara, famed throughout the world, by whose power even the mighty ten-headed Rāvaṇa was subdued. They spent five days there, each worshipping the liṅga they had established. Hanumān, son of the wind, followed the king, ever attentive in service. As they prepared to depart, Rāma instructed Hanumān, “Remove all the liṅgas.” But Rāma added, “Those liṅgas installed by me, by knowers of excellent mantras, and by other attendants of Śaṃkara must not be removed. Worship of Paraśaṃkara must never be neglected, nor should external rites be mixed with the worship of Bhava. Those who, out of disregard, fail to properly worship the Śivaliṅga—though they may seem well—are born among swords and leaves; such faithless ones do not fulfill their duties. By my command, such people suffer all manner of miseries at the hands of Yama’s servants.” Hanumān tried to uproot the liṅga with his mighty arms but could not. Then, wishing to seize it with his tail, he wrapped himself around the liṅga, intent on removing it, but still was unable. Such a great and wondrous event occurred for both the lord of the monkeys and the king. Who could move the liṅga of such immense power, established by Maheśa himself? Seeing it unmoved, the mighty and noble king departed at once. Rāma then invited the brāhmaṇas, performed worship, circumambulated the liṅgas, and, with a heart supremely pure, bowed to all the liṅgas along with his companions. Thus, the sacred place became attended by all the foremost residents of Kiṣkindhā; here, by merely bathing, even the greatest sins are destroyed, without doubt. With devotion, Rāma again bowed to the Gaṅgā, saying, “Be gracious, Mother, to me, O Gautamī,” and, filled with wonder, gazed upon her and bowed repeatedly. From that time, the gods themselves proclaimed this Kiṣkindhā-tīrtha supremely holy. Whoever recites, remembers, or hears of it with devotion is freed from sin—how much more so by bathing or giving gifts there! Next, the tīrtha known as Vyāsa-tīrtha was described, belonging to the illustrious son of Pracetas. Nothing is more sacred or grants greater accomplishments than this holy place. Brahmā himself recounted, “I had ten mind-born sons, creators of worlds. Desiring to know the end, they journeyed across the earth with their energy. Again and again, they were created and departed; when I searched for them, they did not return—those who have gone are truly gone. “Then were born the great sages, the divine descendants of Angiras, who knew the essence of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas and were accomplished in all branches of knowledge. Having received permission from their teacher Angiras, and bowing to him, all those ascetics, resolute in their austerities, departed without asking leave of their mother. “But the mother is to be honored above all, even more than the teacher. Then, in anger, Nārada’s mother cursed her own sons: ‘Those sons who, disregarding me, have set out to practice austerities in every way—none of them shall attain success.’ “Though they searched in various regions, their austerities did not bear fruit; obstacles pursued them everywhere. In some places, demons created hindrances; in others, humans, women, or even their own bodily defects. Thus, wandering, they all came to Agastya, the treasury of austerity, best among ascetics, born from a jar, teacher of the world. “The descendants of Angiras, born of the fire lineage, bowed to Agastya, lord of the southern quarter, tranquil and humble, and prepared to ask him: ‘O venerable one, by what fault does our austerity not succeed, though we perform it again and again by various means? What should we do? What method should we follow for success? Please tell us the means, O best of Brahmins, for you are foremost in austerity. You are known among the wise, ever tranquil, compassionate, and a doer of good. Free from anger and hatred, speak what you wish. Those who are proud, devoid of compassion, neglectful of service to their teacher, untruthful, and cruel—they do not know the truth.’ “Agastya, after meditating for a moment, slowly spoke to them: ‘You possess tranquil minds and were created by Brahmā as progenitors; yet your austerity was insufficient—remember the cause of your downfall. Those who were formerly created by Brahmā and attained happiness, and those who went forth again to seek, they too became the descendants of Angiras. You too, in due course, have gone forth again and again; you will certainly become greater even than the progenitor himself, without doubt. ‘Go now to perform austerity at the Gaṅgā, purifier of the three worlds; there is no other means in this world except the Gaṅgā, beloved of Śiva. There, in the holy place, you shall worship the giver of knowledge in the hermitage; that great soul will dispel all your doubts, for without a true teacher, no one attains perfection anywhere.