The Lord, pleased by unwavering devotion, declared, “Today, because of your devotion, I am pleased; you shall attain union with me.” From that moment onward, the god Maheśvara came to be known as Karkoṭakeśvara. Whoever, endowed with sincere devotion, worships this form of the Lord finds release from all afflictions: those tormented by disease are freed, and those weighed down by sorrow are liberated from their suffering. Those who regularly behold Karkoṭakeśvara, and especially those who come to see him on the auspicious fifth or fourteenth days, or on the sacred day of the sun, receive profound blessings. Even a woman beset by misfortune attains good fortune; childhood ailments are dispelled, and there is no fear of untimely death. Whatever desire a devoted person contemplates within his heart is fulfilled. O Goddess, this is the power of Karkoṭakeśvara, the destroyer of sin. Then Śrī Mahādeva spoke: “O Goddess, know the eleventh liṅga as Siddheśvara, the most auspicious one. In ancient times, in the Daru forest, there lived Brāhmaṇas accomplished in yoga. Some sustained themselves on vegetables, some on nothing at all, and others on mere leaves. Some delighted in the hero’s posture, while others subsisted by inhaling smoke. Still others, composed and resolute, practiced severe vows such as Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa. Yet, despite their austerities, they were afflicted by suffering and pondered, ‘How shall we attain perfection?’ Thus, the sacred scriptures once sung by the sages seemed to bear no fruit for them. They experimented with collyrium, medicinal pills, and even walked about with sandals, striving in various ways. Though accomplished in thought, they became filled with intense indignation at their lack of success. At that very moment, a bodiless voice resounded from the heavens: ‘Do not disregard, O noble ones, that the scripture seems fruitless on earth. Perfection will come to you here, ascetics. From desire comes the loss of austerity, and from ego, bewilderment. He who is free from rivalry, desire, and anger, who is guided by pure intention, single-minded and composed, who regards the wives of others as mothers and the wealth of others as mere clods of earth—in such a person, O Brāhmaṇas, both ascetic power and true success are seen. Therefore, even in a thousand years, perfection will not arise otherwise. Go now, all of you, with focused minds, to the great Kāla forest. By beholding that god, supreme accomplishment is attained. Worshipping him with devotion, you will reach the highest perfection.’ Indeed, in ancient times, even King Vasumat found mastery of the sword difficult to obtain, but the great-souled Haihaya gained the power to travel by sandals. Anūruṇa, too, in days of old, attained invisibility and acquired collyrium simply by seeing this liṅga. Upon hearing the celestial voice, those perfected beings were filled with wonder. They went and beheld the supreme liṅga, the bestower of all accomplishments. From that time, the supreme Lord of Siddhas became renowned among the gods, and for those who worshipped him, accomplishment on earth was no longer difficult. Even those lacking devotion, if they merely approach Siddheśvara out of association, gain benefit. Even one burdened with great sins, if he remembers Siddheśvara, finds relief. But especially, one who beholds the supreme god Siddheśvara with discipline—particularly on the eighth and fourteenth days of the dark fortnight—receives special blessings: a childless man is granted a son, and a poor man attains wealth. Thus does the grace of Siddheśvara flow to all who seek him with devotion.