As Śambhu, the blessed and supreme lord, passed among the gathered wives of the sages, some of them were so overcome by his divine presence that they embraced him, while others pressed gentle kisses upon him. Yet Śambhu himself, ever free from desire, remained untouched by their affections and walked ahead, serene and detached. Witnessing this strange behavior in their wives, the sages were filled with distress and confusion. Unable to comprehend the cause and deeply troubled for the sake of their wives’ virtue, the sages, in their agitation, pronounced a curse upon Śambhu, lamenting, “You mock us with our wives, and it is your constant presence that brings about these happenings.” At that moment, by the words of Brahmā, the very earth trembled, shaken by the gravity of what had transpired. Fear swept through the hosts of gods, and, terrified, they hurried to the Grandfather, Brahmā, to report all that had taken place. They pleaded, “O lord, we do not know, O best of gods, the cause of this strange event.” Brahmā replied, “The liṅga of Pinākin has been cast down by the Vālakhilyas. Therefore, I have assembled all the gods at that place. Until the dissolution of the world, which may come from untimely calamity, at the hermitage of the Vālakhilyas, where that liṅga fell, all should 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, in this world, both moving and unmoving, there is nothing not pervaded by you, O lord, for the sake of creation and destruction. The elements beginning with earth were created by you according to your will. Therefore, O Lord of the gods, be gracious to this liṅga.” Brahmā continued, “How can I take up this liṅga again before purity is attained? Though I have the power to restrain the Vālakhilyas, 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 himself worshipped the liṅga first with great devotion. After him, Viṣṇu, then Śakra (Indra), and then the other gods offered their worship in turn. With their devotion, the terrible omens that had plagued the world were instantly pacified. Then Mahādeva spoke to all the gods gathered there, saying, “O Lord of the gods, those who worship here will go to heaven and their sins will be destroyed. Therefore, O Indra, let this excellent liṅga of yours be covered with the thunderbolt. Let Indra do so for the increase of all righteousness.” At these words, as Pulastya narrates, the lord of the gods, Indra, covered the liṅga with his thunderbolt. Even today, because of the touch of the thunderbolt, any man who comes into its presence attains its blessings. The greatness of this liṅga was proclaimed by Śaṅkara himself, and from that time onward, the worship of the liṅga arose among mortals. Thus, this wondrous event took place long ago on the great mountain Arbuda. On the fourteenth day at the end of the month of Phalguna, offerings should be made there with fresh barley meal. Whoever, with devotion, feeds Brahmins at that place with new barley meal on that day, earns the praise of the eminent sages, for such giving is highly meritorious.