Hear now, O wise one, the tale of great merit and divine events as revealed in the sacred Purāṇa. Blessed indeed is he who, on the hundredth Vyatipāta day, offers a thousand cows in charity. Fortunate too is the one who, with reverence, arranges for the ritual shaving while seated upon the Sun’s own chariot, or who, for a full month, worships daily before the Sun at the sacred pond, O Sarasvatī. And most blessed is he who, with unwavering devotion, gazes each day upon the radiant chariot of the Sun, O Vyāsa. Such a soul, having enjoyed the company of his kin in this world, upon death ascends to the glorious city of the Sun. Recall the time when the fierce Andhaka was vanquished by Maheshvara, who wielded the mighty trident with three points. In that moment of triumph, Viṣṇu sounded his conch, seeking the welfare of the gods. There stood Viṣṇu himself, and also the four-faced liṅga, and on the right side of the deity, established with the trident, Viṣṇu took his place. Those whose sins have been burnt away by penance and devotion attain the highest state; no spirits, ghosts, or fiends can afflict such a one. Whoever beholds the god who bears the conch is granted the abode of the Imperishable. He who is manifest as the gross, the subtle, and the evident, who is all beings yet transcends all beings, is thus revealed. Sanatkumara spoke: When Andhaka was pierced by the triśūla, the very sound of Rudra echoed forth. There, after bathing and purifying oneself, with mind concentrated in discipline, the triśūla, having slain Andhaka, entered the sacred waters of Bhogavati. The waters themselves questioned, “For what purpose have you come here?” And the triśūla replied, “I have been sent by Śaṃkara. Having pierced the wicked one, I have entered these auspicious waters of Bhogavati.” Hearing these words, the denizens of Bhogavati, eager to behold the Supreme Lord, radiant and resplendent with many faces, gathered in delight. All the gods, led by Brahmā and Viṣṇu, beheld Śūleśa, Lord of Hāṭaka, and praised him with many hymns. Emerging along the path of the triśūla, the Lord became known as Śūleśvara. There, the sinful king of the demons, Andhaka, was shaken by the power of the triśūla. On auspicious days—the eighth, the full moon, the fourteenth, or on a Saturday—whoever, purified of sin, beholds Maheśvara, the god of gods, uplifts a hundred families and attains the realm of Śiva. By the power of Śūleśvara, even the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa is destroyed. Thus did the triśūla of Andhaka reach the waters of Bhogavati. Armed with sword, of immense valor, Andhaka roared like a lion, though tormented by evil-hearted foes. Struck by this mighty roar, the wicked ones fainted and fell to the ground, and even the gods, led by Brahmā and Viṣṇu, were seized with fear. Finding their adversaries impossible to overcome, the well-wishers of the gods devised a plan. Brahmā then brought forth the auspicious seat of the swan, and Kumara created Kaumari, the goddess whose splendid mount is the peacock. Again Kumara created another Kaumari, this one mounted upon the lord of birds. She, the fierce one, who crushes the bodies of demons, wielded club and mace. The Lord then fashioned Chamunda, clad in lion skin, dark in complexion, adorned with ornaments, her body formed of hide, bone, and hair. Near the sacred banyan tree, the Mothers of the world were created in ancient times. Whoever, having bathed and purified himself, beholds the Mothers there is truly blessed. There too, O great sage, the god himself uttered the lion’s roar. By beholding that god, one becomes strong and fearless, like a lion.