Radiance emerged from gold, and that brilliance was encircled by a garland of flames. This dazzling form became known as Śiva, the lord of the golden flame—Svarnajvaleshvara. Whoever worships this Śiva with true devotion, the scriptures declare, is blessed with endless prosperity, the power to give generously, and the joy of descendants. No matter what sins a person may have committed—whether knowingly or unknowingly—worshipping this golden-flamed Lord brings immense merit. The rewards are said to be equal to those gained by offering funeral rice at Gaya, or by reciting the sacred Gayatri mantra a hundred thousand times, or by giving all manner of gifts according to the prescribed rules. Especially on the fourteenth day, those who worship Svarnajvaleshvara are protected by the gods and surrounded by various hosts of celestial beings. By the grace of the Divine, O Devi, the supreme linga is revealed to the devotee. Simply by beholding this linga, one attains the heavenly realm. In the ancient Varaha Kalpa, the pure sage Narada wandered into a beautiful grove, adorned with wish-fulfilling trees. The air was alive with the music of veena and flute, and the place was attended by gods and gandharvas. In those auspicious realms—such as Brahmaloka—filled with incomparable qualities, the gods, siddhas, charanas, and kinnaras sang joyful praises. There, the great sage Narada was approached by Vasava, the lord of the gods. They spoke of the delightful Mahakala forest, a place that always brings joy and auspiciousness. It is said that the very worlds that witness the holy Mahakala forest are blessed, for the Lord himself stands there, surrounded by all groups of beings. On earth, the sacred Naimisha forest is renowned for destroying all sins. Yet Prayaga is declared ten times greater, fulfilling every desire. The Sarasvati, flowing eastward, is remembered as ten times more virtuous than Prayaga. Greater still is Kurukshetra, ten times more powerful than Sarasvati. But above all, Mahakala is considered ten times superior even to Kurukshetra. In the field of Mahakala, an unfathomable number of divine powers reside—sixty thousand crores and sixty hundred crores, with nine crores of shaktis abiding there. Even the worms, insects, and flying creatures that die in that sacred land are uplifted, their sacrifice sanctified. Such is the wondrous glory, as recounted by Narada, the best among the gods. Hearing these marvels, the hosts of gods swiftly arrived at Mahakalavana. This place is remembered as even greater than heaven itself and remains imperishable, even at the time of cosmic dissolution. Within Mahakalavana stood marvelous golden mansions, auspicious and adorned with diamonds and sapphires, their beauty resembling pure crystal. The gods, overjoyed at the sight, praised Narada for leading them there. So wondrous was this place that the gods declared, “We shall not go to Kailasa, nor to Meru. This is our supreme Amaravati, this is our auspicious Bhogavati.” Meanwhile, heaven itself became empty, for the gods had resolved to depart and had abandoned their celestial abodes, journeying instead to Mahakalavana. Having spoken thus, they arrived at the excellent Mahakalavana, beholding it encircled by the joyous assembly of gods. At that very moment, a bodiless voice resounded, indicating directions: to the east of Karkotaka and to the south of Mahamaya. Hearing these words from the Lord of the gods, joy filled their hearts, and their minds became absorbed in the sacredness of the place. Worshipping there with auspicious flowers, Narada addressed the lovely-faced Devi, declaring: “Even those who have committed evil deeds, if they strive to see you—especially on the eighth or fourteenth day, or at the time of a transit—they too are uplifted and blessed by your vision.” Thus, the glory of Svarnajvaleshvara and the sanctity of Mahakalavana were celebrated by the gods, sages, and all beings, their hearts filled with devotion and awe.