I know Mahādeva, the great Lord of many forms. There was one who journeyed to behold the liṅga, the imperishable Lord whose matted locks crown his head. Arriving at the sacred place called Piśācamocana, he worshipped the trident-bearing Lord with devotion. As he and his companions considered the sanctity of that field, they bowed down to Giriśa, the remover of all evils. In that very place, a single doe, seeking to be devoured, approached the supreme Lord Kapardeśvara. Fleeing in terror, the doe fell into the clutches of a tiger, but on seeing the best of sages, she ran to another deserted spot. Suddenly, a great flame appeared in the sky, shining with the brilliance of the sun. Upon a bull, surrounded by noble beings, the doe was seen once more. In that moment, Gaṇeśvara himself manifested, but then vanished from their sight. Those present turned to their teacher, Acyuta, and asked him about the greatness of Kapardeśvara. Having bowed to Vṛṣabhadhvaja, the Lord with the bull-banner, Acyuta spoke of the glory of Kapardeśa: “By merely remembering him, one is quickly freed from all heaps of sin. All obstacles are destroyed by worshipping Kapardeśvara. He should be worshipped with all effort and praised with Vedic hymns. Perfection in yoga arises within six months—of this, there is no doubt. Whoever bathes here, at the Piśācamocana pool, gains great merit.” A devotee sat there, reciting the Rudra mantra day and night, uttering the Pranava—the very form of Brahman. That one, wholly absorbed in yoga, dwelt there, having taken a vow of lifelong dedication. His body was covered only with bones and skin, and he breathed heavily again and again. A question was asked: “Who are you? From which land have you come to this place? Surrounded by sons, grandsons, and others, you were eager to support your household. Yet, never—not even a little—have you performed any meritorious deed, however small. The Lord of the universe is seen, touched, and saluted in Varanasi, and O sage, I have not seen the terrible face of Yama. Now, overcome by thirst, I do not know what is beneficial or harmful. Do that for me; I bow to you and take refuge in you. There is truly no one more virtuous than you in this world. Having been touched and saluted by you—who else on earth is like you? By whom else will I quickly abandon this wretched birth?” With these words, he fixed his mind in deep concentration. His beautiful crown bore the sign of the moon. Just as the sun, when it rises, is seen by all the gods—Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Kinnaras, and others—so too does Rudra, composed of the three Vedas, shine forth in that place. He bowed and praised that matted-haired Lord. The sun, the fire, mounted upon a tawny steed; the great sage, pure and composed of Brahman; the lord of the golden womb, the three-eyed one—to him I bow always, seeking refuge in him.