With heart overflowing in devotion, the seeker approached Lord Śiva, addressing Him as Mṛḍa, the compassionate Lord of all beings. “O Lord,” he prayed, “I am yours. My life is dedicated to your virtues, and my mind is ever fixed upon you. Knowing you as the boundless ocean of compassion, be gracious to me. Whatever I have done—be it recitation, worship, or any other act—whether performed in ignorance or with knowledge, may it all bear fruit by your grace, O Śaṃkara. I am a great sinner, and you are the supreme purifier. Recognizing this, O Lord of Gaurī, do with me as you will. “You cannot be known through the Vedas, the Purāṇas, doctrines, or even by the great sages, O Mahādeva. How, then, can I hope to know you, O Mahāśiva? Yet, whatever my condition, I am yours in every way, O Maheśvara. Protect me; be gracious, O Supreme Lord.” With this humble and heartfelt prayer, the devotee placed fresh flowers upon Śiva, bowing down to Śaṃbhu with deep devotion, prostrating fully in the prescribed manner. Then, following the proper method, the wise one performed circumambulation and, filled with faith, praised the Lord of gods with hymns. Making a sound in the throat, the pure-minded devotee bowed again, offered respectful submission, and performed the ritual dismissal. O sage, when worship is thus performed with earthen images of Śiva, following the proper rules, it grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation, and greatly increases devotion to Shiva. Whoever studies, recites, or listens to this sacred chapter with a pure mind is freed from all sins and attains all their desires. This excellent narration bestows long life, health, fame, heaven, and happiness through children and grandchildren. Hearing this, the son addressed his father with reverence: “O father, you have rightly spoken of the procedure for worship with earthen images. Now, out of compassion, O merciful one, please explain in detail the numbers of earthen Shiva liṅgas to be made according to different desires.” The sage replied, “Listen, all you sages, to the procedure for worship with earthen images, by whose mere performance a person becomes fulfilled. If one does not make an earthen liṅga but worships another image, that worship is in vain, as are gifts and other acts performed without it. The number of earthen liṅgas is prescribed according to one’s desire, and the definite results are obtained according to the prescribed number. “First, one must invoke the presence, then install and worship each liṅga separately, knowing the form of the liṅga distinctly in each case. A man seeking knowledge should, with devotion, worship a thousand earthen Shiva liṅgas—this will surely yield the desired result. One desiring wealth should worship half that number; one desiring sons, one and a half thousand; one seeking garments, one hundred and five liṅgas. “If liberation is sought, a crore times as many should be worshipped. For land, a thousand; for compassion, three thousand; for pilgrimage, two thousand. One wishing for friends should worship three thousand liṅgas; for control over others, one hundred and eight; for destruction, seven hundred; for enchantment, one hundred and eight. For expulsion and immobilization, a thousand each; for causing enmity, half that number. “For release from shackles, one and a half thousand liṅgas should be worshipped; in fear of a great king, five hundred. In danger from thieves and the like, two hundred; in fear of witches and similar beings, five hundred. In poverty, five thousand; ten thousand grants all desires. Now, listen to the regular rule. “One liṅga removes sin; two grant success in aims; three are the supreme cause of all desires. Each succeeding number brings results as previously stated. Now, hear another view regarding the enumeration, as taught by different sages. “A wise person who makes ten thousand earthen liṅgas becomes fearless and removes the fear of kingship. To obtain release from prison or similar troubles, one should make ten thousand liṅgas; to dispel fear from Ḍākinīs and the like, seven thousand. One desiring sons should make fifty thousand liṅgas; for a lineage of daughters, ten thousand. By making ten thousand liṅgas, one attains the lordship of Viṣṇu and others; by making a hundred thousand, one attains incomparable prosperity. Whoever, on earth, makes a crore of liṅgas becomes Śiva himself—about this, there is no need for further deliberation. “The worship of earthen liṅgas bestows the fruit of a crore sacrifices, grants enjoyment and liberation always, and thus fulfills all worldly aims. But for one whose time passes without worship of the liṅga, great harm befalls that person. On one side are all gifts, vows, pilgrimages, disciplines, and sacrifices; on the other side is the worship of the liṅga—so it is remembered. “In the Kali age, the worship of the liṅga is regarded as the highest in the world; this is the settled conclusion of the scriptures, whether one believes or not. The liṅga grants enjoyment and liberation, removes all calamities, and one who worships it always attains union with Śiva. The liṅga, which is the very name of Śiva, is always to be worshipped by great sages; and among all liṅgas, it is to be worshipped according to rule. “The liṅga is said to be of three kinds: superior, middling, and inferior. Hear from me their measures. A liṅga four fingers high, beautiful and furnished with a pedestal, is declared by sages skilled in scripture to be the superior liṅga.” So, in this way, the sages and seekers learned the supreme method of worshipping Śiva through earthen liṅgas, each step and number carrying its own sacred power and blessing, leading the devotee ever closer to the grace and union with the Lord.