In that sacred land, noble women adorned with beauty formed the retinue of the great king, lending grace and dignity to his presence. It was during this time that the illustrious sage Agastya arrived, accompanied by his devoted wife and companion, Lopāmudrā. Each day, Agastya would perform his ritual bath in the pure waters of Navatīrtha, the revered lake. The king, renowned as the destroyer of the mighty buffalo-demon, dedicated himself at every moment to the worship of the liṅga, the sacred form honored by Brahmā and Viṣṇu themselves. At the break of dawn, he would rise, bathe, and with his own feet walk to the holy site. On the auspicious full moon of Kārttika, so dear to the beloved of Pārvatī, he would anoint himself with fragrant sandalwood, lotus, and camphor water, preparing for the sacred rituals. Before the monthly flag-hoisting and other festivals at the holy place, the king, with a heart purified by devotion, would circumambulate himself in reverence. He addressed the deity as Aruṇācalanātha, the ocean of nectar-like compassion, and each day he anointed the liṅga with various sacred substances, beginning with the five nectars. His worship was adorned with kalhāra flowers and the streaming essence of musk. For three years, the king, steadfast in self-control, served with unwavering devotion. Then, in a vision, he beheld a being like a mountain of mist, mounted upon the noble bull. This was none other than the Lord of gods, whose presence was witnessed by Brahmarṣis such as Vasiṣṭha and great sages like Nārada. Waves of compassion surged from the Lord, whose abodes were filled with the essence of the lotus. Overwhelmed by the divine vision, the king prostrated himself, placing all eight limbs upon the ground in humble obeisance. With hands joined atop his head, he made his request, saying, “I alone have acted thus; let my transgression be forgiven.” Speaking with utmost humility, he appealed to the ocean of mercy. The Lord, compassionate to all creatures, addressed him: “All arrangements are made for the welfare of every being. Once, O Purandara, you dwelt atop the peak of Kailāsa. For a moment, pride overcame you, and you were humbled by restraint. O wielder of the thunderbolt, at that time I instructed you to descend to earth. By that power, this field became my abode. Now, through your constant worship, day and night, you have sanctified this place. “The sky, wind, fire, water, earth, sun, moon, and man—all are transformed by the passage of time. From my boundless ocean of consciousness and bliss, waves arise. Speech, fortune, patience, faith, wisdom, Svāhā, Svadhā, and others—these are all aspects of my great power. Gaurī, the great illusion and mother of the world, is my supreme power. Through her, creation, preservation, dissolution, and movement all occur. Freed from delusion, contemplate my greatness.” Thus blessed, the king was endowed with the divine form and attained sovereignty over the earth. Once more, as Purandara, he enjoyed divine pleasures for a long time. Nandikeśvara then said: “Having spoken thus, the god vanished, and the accomplished king Vajrāṅgada remained, his devotion fulfilled. “O holy one, I have thus told you the flourishing of devotion to Śiva. What more need be said? Even the simple act of circumambulating the sacred Śoṇa mountain is sufficient. Especially during the solstice, equinox, and other auspicious occasions, such devotion brings great merit.