Among all the divine beings, there is one who stands supreme—Shiva, ever-powerful and always accessible to those who seek him with pure devotion. Only those who are free from envy, who hold unwavering devotion to Shiva, and who follow his commands faithfully, can truly approach him. These devoted souls continually worship the Great God, Shiva, the universal bestower of all blessings. But such sacred dharma must be protected. Those who break the order of Shiva, who turn away from his path, must be dealt with decisively. It is said that the violator of Shiva’s dharma should be slain without hesitation, for when Shiva’s order is destroyed, a dangerous power can arise in its place. O goddess, Shiva cannot be conquered; thus, all the gods honor him. Yet, there was one who, afflicted by the curse of the great sages—who themselves were devoted to Shiva—was transformed. The sages, angered by his actions, cursed him: “Let this wicked one become a buffalo, like the demon Mahiṣa.” Humbled, he bowed before the sages, seeking their forgiveness and begging to be freed from the curse. Even so, it was decreed that, though he wore the form of a buffalo, his destruction would come only from the Goddess herself, by Shiva’s command. Who could remain unmoved by the disrespect shown to the Siddhas, who are themselves forms of Shiva? Yet, through the grace of these Siddhas, the curse was eventually lifted. When the curse’s effect ended and his buffalo form was shed, he was instructed to behold the radiant liṅga known as Arunachala. In his time as a buffalo, swollen with pride, he had come into union with the supreme liṅga. In ages past, in the three cities, three liṅgas had been seen and worshipped by Rudra himself. But it is said that a liṅga given without proper initiation and rites must be destroyed. Eventually, through the teachings of wandering mendicants, conviction arose in him. By the touch of your lotus feet, O Goddess, he was freed from his bondage—there could be no doubt. To behold that best of mountains, Arunachala, is considered the highest atonement for all faults. One should invoke all sacred waters for purification, and with the Aghamarṣaṇa hymn, bathe the liṅga, worshipping Shiva who is Aruṇādri, with offerings and service. Hearing these profound words of the sage, filled with the essence of Shiva, the mountain-born Goddess—she who protects the world—honored the gods and was filled with joy. Girijā, the daughter of the mountain, let go of her doubt, which had arisen from the fear of harming a devotee of Shiva. Then, from the heavens, a melodious voice resounded. It called forth the sacred rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, Sindhu, Godavari, and Sarasvati—and declared, “Let nine sacred places manifest here, upon this very stone surface. In this month of Ashviyuja, when the constellation Jyeshtha shines, let the ritual month be completed here, equal in sanctity to the guardians of the directions. Establish these sacred places at the forefront for the benefit of the world. Without doubt, the threefold sufferings of the three worlds will be eased. Install them with steadfast devotion for the welfare of all people, accompanied by a great festival lasting ten days.” “In the evenings, worship my form at Shonachala according to the prescribed rites. Through this act, performed by you, the protection of all worlds will be assured.” Moved by this divine command, the mountain maiden undertook both tasks with deep austerity. At that very moment, the nine sacred places manifested there. With the sages’ approval, she immersed herself in the sanctified site, fulfilling the will of the divine and bringing blessings to all.