In a time long past, there were outcastes who, filled with devotion to Shiva, would bring fire and offer lamps in his honor. Through this sacred act of giving light, they received the fruits of their offerings—sons, wives, and the blessings of family. Yet, their circumstances were humble: they ate food that was licked, tasteless, rotten, and stale. Even so, they found delight in what they had, eating and enjoying themselves in places that were impure by worldly standards. Understanding the great merit that comes from giving lamps, these devotees continued their offerings before Shiva, and in those places, they lived with joy and happiness, finding pleasure in their own way. However, in the realm of the departed, a dreadful state always prevailed. Witnessing this, all the excellent gods gathered and spoke to Damodara, the Lord of the Universe. Alongside them, the Gandharvas, Yakshas, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, and serpents also addressed him. They said, “In these places, we are always happy and enjoy ourselves. But, O Lord of the Universe, those who dwell there remain extremely miserable. For them, there is nothing that brings illumination. They have no companion, no spouse, no support, and no guides. There, twenty-eight dreadful hells are renowned. How, O Krishna, can those suffering people ever find happiness there?” Hearing their plea, Damodara spoke words that were pleasing and granted the fruits of desire. He addressed all the assembled gods: “Hear, all of you, what I am about to say. In Avanti, there exists a sacred place that instantly removes even the gravest of sins. On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Kārtika, one who is devoted to the ancestors, self-controlled, and gathers black sesame seeds with a focused mind, and then, turning to the left, offers them with mantras to Yama, to Vaivasvata, Kāla, Dakṣa, and Manu, to Hara, to the son of the Sun, and to the brother of Kālindī—using mantras that begin with ‘salutation’ and the sacred syllable Oṃ, most auspicious—with concentrated mind, should satisfy the god Yama with a vessel of sesame seeds. Whoever, by this method, satisfies the mighty Yama and spends the night there, filled with desire, should offer salutations to Sūrya, to Rudra, and to the lord of the end of time. Indeed, throughout the month of Kārtika, that person’s prosperity will increase. At sunset, when the sun has set at midday, the wick of the lamp should be as long as a man. Placing it on the ground, measuring a hand’s length, and on the head, two hands, adorned with eight petals—in its center, a great light should be offered with supreme devotion. A new, spotless, white or bright red cloth, or else pure white, should be placed upon rice flour so that it neither spills nor trembles. It should be arranged beautifully on the petals, for the sake of splendor and the fulfillment of desires. Then, having smeared the ground with cow dung and anointed it with fragrant water, cool water should be brought to fill eight beautiful water pots. These pots are to be filled with honey and ghee, curd and milk, from the southwest corner to the southern end. With devotion, these offerings are made in order to the Prajapatis, to the departed, to Indra, and to the ancestors. Cows, gold, silver, cloth, fruits, roots, barley, and grain should be given to the foremost twice-born who are learned, to those versed in the Puranas, and likewise to the Brahmins.” Thus, Damodara revealed the path by which even those suffering in the dreadful realms could find release and happiness, through acts of devotion, charity, and reverence performed at the sacred place in Avanti.