Afflicted by thirst, a woman arrived at a sacred place at the height of midday. At that very moment, a being of divine form appeared before her. Soon after, her husband, anxious and intent on searching for her, also arrived. He called out, “If my wife, O slender-waisted one, has come here and been seen—” Tormented by thirst and hunger, he wept again and again. The divine form, which is exceedingly rare even for the gods, had manifested there. The divine being spoke, “You too, quickly bathe here in this water.” Following this command, the husband, along with his son, entered the waterfall. Yet, within that pool of water, he suffered greatly and met his death. With deep sorrow, the woman built a funeral pyre together with her son and kindled the fire. Those present, overcome with supreme compassion, spoke to her in astonishment, “O beautiful one, why do you follow this man of great sin?” She replied, “What will I do with beauty, without my own husband? Whether he is ugly or handsome, poor or lord of wealth—he is mine.” The sages then said, “This boy, O best of sages, has come to your protection.” Overcome with compassion, they looked at one another. Then, those great sages revived her husband. At that very moment, a celestial chariot, just as they had desired in their minds, appeared. The couple stood before those sages of purified souls. The woman, Maṇikarṇikā, was addressed by the sages. Pleased by her fidelity to her husband and especially by her truthfulness, they declared, “Whatever great liṅga is here, it shall bear your name. This alone is our desire; we have no other purpose.” Thus, the sacred place named Maṇikarṇikā arose, bearing her name. The Vālakhilyas, devoted to austerity, are especially established there. When a solar eclipse occurs, rites such as bathing and giving are performed at this sacred site. Whoever bathes there, contemplating any desire, attains it. Therefore, one should strive with all effort to bathe there. It is the very place where, in former times, austerity was practiced by the lame one and by a brāhmaṇa. A brāhmaṇa named Paṃgu, descended from Cyavana, lived there long ago. Once, while engaged in household duties with his relatives, he was abandoned by them. He then journeyed to Mount Arbuda, where he established a liṅga and worshipped the Lord. Devoted to Śiva, he lived subsisting only on air. Mahādeva, pleased with the brāhmaṇa, appeared and said, “I will grant you everything, even if it is very difficult to obtain.” Paṃgu requested, “Let my lameness depart here by your grace, O Śaṃkara. May your constant presence be here, together with your wife.” Śiva replied, “Through the power of austerity, O noble one, this sacred place will attain fame. On the fourteenth day of the bright half of Caitra, let my presence be here as well.” Thus, the sacred place of Maṇikarṇikā, sanctified by devotion, truthfulness, and the blessings of the Lord, became renowned for its power to fulfill desires and for the divine presence established there.