On the lofty peak, a pure and sacred stream of water flowed, its presence sanctifying the very mountain. It was here that a divine being declared to the sage, “Out of friendship and affection, I shall always reside on this spot.” Such was the holiness of this place that even a barren woman, if she merely bathed in those waters, would be blessed with a son adorned with all auspicious marks. Especially on the bright fifth day of the lunar fortnight, worship performed here with offerings of fruits bore immense merit. Those who bathed in this holy stream with devotion, or performed the sacred rites of śrāddha on that auspicious fifth day, would find their efforts richly rewarded. At this time, approaching the sage Nandivardhana, the divine presence spoke kindly: “Choose a boon, child; I am pleased with you, O sinless one.” Nandivardhana, with humility, replied, “May your presence here always remain, without fail. And just as I am known as Arbuda, may I too attain lasting fame on earth.” At the divine command, the sage established his own hermitage on the mountain, amidst groves of jackfruit, campaka, mango, priyangu, bilva, and pomegranate trees. There, the best of sages dwelled, accompanied by Arundhati. Such was the sanctity of this place that even those burdened by great sins, if they bathed in the stream, would ascend to heaven. Indeed, anyone who bathed here would attain the highest spiritual state. Especially meritorious was the act of giving sesame here, particularly in the month of Māgha. “What more need be said?” it was proclaimed. “Let one simply perform the sacred bath here.” And it was further said that upon beholding the face of the sage Vasiṣṭha, one would be freed from the cycle of rebirth. Sūta continued the tale: After establishing his hermitage, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha devoted himself fully to spiritual practice, subsisting only on fruits. For five hundred years, he lived on water alone, performing severe austerities—undergoing the five-fire penance in the heat of summer and residing in water during the cold of winter. Pleased by the sage’s unwavering devotion, Mahādeva, the great Lord Śiva, appeared before him. Overcome with wonder, Vasiṣṭha began to praise him with a heartfelt hymn: “Salutations to Śiva, the pure, the all-pervading, the immortal. Salutations to the gross and the subtle, the great soul who pervades everything. Salutations to the bearer of the crescent moon, to the one clothed only in the directions. Salutations to you, whose very form is knowledge, who is attainable through knowledge. O Lord of Kāśī, O Lord of the Mountain, repeated salutations to you. Beloved of Gaurī, source of all auspiciousness, universal form, pure one, great soul—salutations to you.” Pleased by these sincere praises, Śiva spoke: “I am pleased with you; may good fortune be yours—choose a boon, O steadfast one.” As he spoke, the mountain split open and a liṅga arose before the sage. Śiva revealed, “I had previously promised this to the great-souled mountain. By your words, O best of Brāhmaṇas, all will indeed come true. Whoever among mortals recites this hymn to me with devotion shall be blessed.” Śiva continued, “O best of sages, I was sent here by Indra for the sake of what is dear to me. In the northern direction of the god, there is always a sacred pool; whoever goes there attains the supreme state, free from old age and death. By splitting the mountain, my liṅga emerged from there. Because of the greatness of this liṅga, it will never move from its place.” Thus, the mountain became sanctified by the presence of the liṅga and the sage, and the stream that flowed there brought blessings to all who approached with faith.