O Vyasa, hear now of the greatness bestowed upon those who offer gifts and make dedications in sacred places: whatever is given, no matter to whom, becomes imperishable, undying in its merit. When one bathes, invoking the name of the holy goddess, all traces of demonhood are washed away, and the devotee is granted eternal liberation. In his lineage, never will a ghost be born. Freed from every sin, just as a serpent sheds its old skin, he is released from all taint. Such a one, leaving behind the realm of Yama, journeys to the world of Rudra. He attains the fruit of performing an Ashvamedha sacrifice—of this, O Vyasa, there is no doubt. The presiding deity of this holy place is known as Damarukeshvara. Fear of disease departs from him, and upon death, he enters the city of Shiva. There, like Indra, he obtains both a kingdom and the delights of heaven, enjoying himself for a hundred crore aeons. Even in this world, he achieves success and victory in every endeavor. By worshipping the Lord with offerings of gold, all sins are destroyed. He need not fear serpents, nor will poverty ever trouble him. Freed from the illusion cast by Vishnu, he attains the supreme state. Even the most grievous sins, such as the slaying of a Brahmin, are washed away. By beholding that god, one gains the merit of a hundred sacrifices. Thus concludes the twentieth chapter, the “Description of the Pilgrimage to the Fourteen Holy Places,” from the section on the greatness of the Avanti region in the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. Now, Vyasa, listen to the tale of Hanumatkeshvara, a place that bestows both worldly enjoyment and final liberation. Whoever bathes in the sacred Shaiva lake and beholds Hanumatkeshvara is truly blessed. Let me recount the ancient story of what happened long ago. In the days of yore, Vishnu, in the form of Rama, struck down the wicked one in Lanka. Having slain his foe, Rama took Sita, the daughter of Janaka, and, surrounded by sages, attained his kingdom. In that assembly, Rama inquired about the valor of two mighty beings—Shambhu (Shiva) and the Wind-born (Hanuman). It was said that, just as Lord Maheshvara is unmatched in battle, so too among monkeys is Hanuman his equal. Hearing this, Hanuman declared, “I will journey to the city of Lanka and request a linga.” So Hanuman traveled to Lanka and spoke to Vibhishana, the king of the Rakshasas. Vibhishana replied, “Take this linga as you wish. Before the conquest of the three worlds, my noble brother Ravana gave this linga to me. I now give it to you, O monkey—this is the truth.” Hanuman took the linga, radiant as a pearl. Then Vibhishana spoke again, saying, “It is said that, long ago, this linga belonged to the Lord of Wealth. When Ravana was bound, the Lord of Wealth, by the grace of this linga, became the protector of all riches.” On the seventh day, Hanuman reached the city of Avantika. There, on the bank of Rudrasaras, he placed the linga and bathed in the sacred waters. Desiring to lift the linga again, he found himself unable to do so. At that moment, the deity manifested and spoke to Hanuman, the son of the Wind, declaring, “Hanumatkeshvara will become renowned throughout the world.” Thus was established the glory of Hanumatkeshvara, the bestower of enjoyment and liberation, and the sanctity of this holy region.