In the sacred narrative, Mahādeva, the great Lord Śiva, spoke of the most ancient and revered places: Upaśānta, Śukreśvara, Vyāghreśa, and Jambukeśvara. He explained that whoever beholds these holy sites is freed from the cycle of suffering and rebirth in saṃsāra. After imparting this teaching, Mahādeva cast his gaze in all directions. As he stood there, the presence of Maheshvara, the Supreme Lord of gods, became manifest, and suddenly the entire area was suffused with a radiant light, as if the place itself had been illuminated. At that moment, the devoted followers of Pashupati appeared, their bodies gleaming white with sacred ash, steadfast in their vows and great of soul. They approached Maheshvara in hundreds, bowing reverently and gazing upon the Lord of Yoga, who was absorbed in profound meditation. These yogis stood established in their own selves, as if merging into the very essence of Ishvara. The husband of Uma, Lord Śiva, was present among them, manifesting his supreme form and encompassing the entire world within himself, appearing as if he stood alone. When Śiva assumed this exalted form, the daughter of the mountain—Pārvatī—was so overwhelmed that she could not bear to look upon him. Realizing that she could not perceive this form, the supreme goddess abided in her own nature and, through the power of yoga, assumed the form of Prakriti. In this way, she was able to behold both Śiva and the great-souled Hara once more. The yogis, having established dissolution, saw the Purusha, and all their seeds of worldly existence were burned away. They entered the heart, beautifully remembering the sacred five-syllabled seed-mantra. The divine form of Śiva, destroyer of all sins, which had previously been revealed, now took on an auspicious body, abiding in a blue-red form. Upon seeing him, the mountain’s daughter was filled with joy, her whole body thrilled; she praised him, bowed at his feet, and asked, “O Lord, who are these?” Śiva, the best of gods, replied to the goddess: “O beautiful one, these devoted and excellent twice-born souls have followed my vow. Whatever yogas they have practiced here, in a single birth, through the power of this sacred place and their devotion to me, I grant them favor by my own form. This great sacred place, served by Brahma and others, is worshipped every month by learned brahmins and accomplished ascetics, especially on the eighth and fourteenth days. “In Varanasi, it is worshipped on both fortnights, during eclipses of the sun and moon, and in the month of Kartika. At all sacred festivals, solstices, and equinoxes, all holy places on earth are found at Varanasi, and the Jahnavi—the sacred river—flows north, issuing from my crest and your father’s, O daughter of the Himalaya. “Listen, O beautiful-faced one, to those who always worship this meritorious place, established in a holy region, and who come from all directions. Kurukshetra, with its hundreds of sacred fords, Pushkara, Nimiṣa, Prayaga, Prithudaka—all are gathered here. Drumakshetra, Kurukshetra, Naimisha with its sacred fords, and all such fields, along with deities and sages, are present here. “The twilights, the seasons, all rivers, lakes, and the seven oceans, as well as all divine fords, are entirely present here. At every festival, the Bhagirathi comes together, beholding Avimukteśvara and even heaven itself. When approaching Kalabhairava, all sins are destroyed; at every festival, the lords of gods become pure. “All the great and holy shrines on earth always enter Avimukta, the supreme field, at every festival, which removes great sins. The lingas at Kedara and Mahalaya, Madhyameshvara, Pashupateshvara, Shankukarṇeshvara, both Gokarna shrines, Drumachandeshvara, Bhadreshvara, Sthanesvara, Ekaagra, Kaleshvara, Ajeshvara, Bhairaveshvara, Ishana, Aumkara, Amareshvara, Mahakala, Jyotisha, Bhasmagatraka—all my sacred places on earth, the sixty-eight and others established, without exception, enter into me at Varanasi during every holy festival. This secret has now been declared. “Therefore, here a being attains the divine immortal state upon death, having bathed in the Ganga and seen me, O auspicious one. One immediately obtains the fruit of all sacrifices, equal to hundreds of thousands of desired offerings. What could be more wonderful? All the foremost shrines in heaven, on earth, and on mountains—know that this is the highest of the high, as I have declared. “The word ‘Avi,’ as spoken by the twice-born and prescribed in the Veda, means ‘free from sin.’ Because I have accepted it as pure, it is called Avimukta.” Having spoken thus, the blessed Rudra, Lord of all worlds, requested the goddess: “O goddess of the gods, make my house of Avimukta well seen.” Then, together with Uma, he revealed the most excellent Śrīparvata. He always resided there with her at Avimukteśvara, and because he pervades all, being the Self of all, he is composed of both existence and non-existence.