With mantras woven from the five Brahmas and bearing the sacred form of the five-syllabled mantra, the worship of Śiva was performed with eight liṅgas, ever venerated by the guardians of the eight directions. In that holy place, perfected beings and the very lords of the gods left their own celestial abodes and gathered, drawn by the accumulation of ripened merit that sanctified the earth. Hosts of gods descended from the lofty peaks of Kailāsa and Meru, joining in this divine assembly. Upon hearing this wondrous account of the lotus-born, spoken from the lips of the lotus-seated sage, Sanaka’s heart overflowed with devotion and joy. Sanaka then spoke, his voice filled with awe: “O Lord, master of Aruṇādri, your greatness is truly wondrous. This glory astonishes and destroys all sins. Śiva, without beginning or end, has assumed the form of the red mountain. Merely uttering once the name ‘Śoṇādri,’ which bestows liberation, one tastes the nectar of the word ‘Śiva’ and learns the sacred order of his worship.” Moved by Sanaka’s devotion, the embodiment of compassion, honoring the Lord of Aruṇādri, spoke. Brahmā said, “Listen, dear one, to the ancient tale of Pārvatī—how she attained supreme bliss by seeking refuge in the Lord of Aruṇādri.” He described a divine throne, radiant with jewels and crowned with a jeweled archway. The throne was spread with the most precious stones and shaded by a canopy of pearls. Garlands of flowers hung all around, their fragrance mingling with the humming of bees. In this sacred precinct, the great elephant, startled by Pārvatī’s lion-mount, wandered uneasily. The forecourt teemed with noble animals and was watched over by the guardians of the directions. The assembly was filled with Brahmarṣis, gods, Siddhas, and royal sages. Devotees devoted to Śiva crowded the space, adorned with beautiful rudrākṣa beads. The sweet sound of bells mingled with the chanting of Vedic hymns, filling the air with sanctity. The Blessed Lord Śiva, wishing to show favor to his devotees, adorned the place with his presence. Together with Ambikā, the compassionate Lord wandered joyfully there. He delighted Pārvatī with the wild, ecstatic dances of his gaṇas and bestowed various boons upon the assembled devotees. Having granted their wishes, Brahmā recounted, “I departed together with Pārvatī, passing through rows of jeweled palaces. We wandered upon playful mountain peaks, amidst golden banana groves, and gentle breezes soothed our weariness.” The goddess, resplendent in every auspicious way, shone as the very embodiment of delight. Innocently, aware of the joy around her, she approached with reverence. Then, playfully and with curiosity, she covered Śambhu, wondering, ‘What is this?’ But from this simple, playful act, a terrible darkness arose and lingered for a long time. The darkness born of the goddess’s sport brought destruction upon the world. Light ceased to move, vanished, and all creation fell into ruin. No living beings remained—only the unmanifest persisted. Those who had regained awareness through austerity began to deliberate among themselves. Even the Lord, the Self of all, did not hasten the passage of time. Thus, the entire three worlds became devoid of light. In this darkness, the fate of those who had attained sovereignty, and the gods born of austerity, became uncertain. With resolve in their hearts, they turned inward and observed the situation with the eye of knowledge, seeking understanding in the midst of cosmic night.