In that sacred place, all inauspiciousness is utterly destroyed, and a person who visits there gains heavenly merit for every hair on his body. It was here that the great, unchanging Lord established the liṅga. But a wondrous event unfolded: the mighty Vālakhilyas cast down this liṅga. How did this happen? Let me recount the ancient tale as it truly occurred. After Satī, steadfast in truth, met her end, Kāmadeva, armed with his flower-bow, swiftly approached Śiva. Sensing Kāmadeva’s advance, Tripurāntaka—another name for Śiva—vanished in fear. He arrived at the hermitage of the Vālakhilyas, a place sanctified and graced by noble trees. There, the wives of the sages, clad only in the directions and speaking sweet words, were overcome by desire. They repeatedly implored Śiva, "O king, enjoy with us." Some embraced him, others kissed him, but blessed Śambhu, the supreme lord, was untouched by desire. He walked ahead, indifferent to their advances. Witnessing their wives’ strange behavior, the sages were greatly distressed. In their anguish, they pronounced a curse upon Śiva, blaming him for mocking them through his constant presence and causing this disturbance. At that moment, by the words of Brahmā, the earth itself trembled. Terrified, all the hosts of gods hurried to the Grandfather, Brahmā, and reported everything. "O lord, we do not know the cause of this calamity," they said. Brahmā explained, "The liṅga of Pinākin has been cast down by the Vālakhilyas. Therefore, I have assembled all the gods here." He continued, "Until the dissolution of the world, born of untimely calamity, at the hermitage of the Vālakhilyas where the liṅga fell, let us offer salutations to the one who dwells everywhere and is the essence of all sacrifices. Salutations to the lord of all, the supreme light, to Tryambaka, to Bhīma, to the wielder of the blessed Pināka." "O best of gods," they prayed, "in this world, both moving and unmoving, nothing exists that is not pervaded by you, O lord, for the sake of creation and destruction. The elements beginning with earth were created by your will. Therefore, O Lord of the gods, be gracious to this liṅga." Brahmā wondered, "How can I take it up again before purity is attained? I could easily restrain the Vālakhilyas, but this liṅga is immovable, O mighty one; it cannot be uprooted. If you, O Grandfather, were to worship the liṅga beforehand for my sake, then peace would come to us and to all beings, moving and unmoving." Thus, Brahmā worshipped the liṅga first with great devotion. After him, Viṣṇu, then Śakra, and then the other gods followed in worship. Immediately, those terrible omens were pacified. Then Mahādeva addressed all those who dwelt in the abode of the gods: "O Lord of the gods, they will go to heaven and their sin will be destroyed.