Once, in the course of a great kalpa, there lived a king who was the very embodiment of Dharma. His radiance was so resplendent that even Soma, Surya, and the other celestial beings seemed dim in comparison. This king possessed the wondrous ability to assume any form at will, and in battle he was ever undefeated. His chief queen was dearer to him than his own life, cherished above all else. Amongst a thousand kings, he stood apart, his mind perpetually filled with awe and wonder at the eminent sage Vashishtha. One day, with humility, he asked, “O Lord, by what Dharma have I obtained such unsurpassed fortune?” Vashishtha replied, revealing the truth of his past: “Long ago, you were born a king, but of the Shudra caste. For many years, you harbored an evil heart. You repeatedly stole the property of Brahmins and constantly reviled the sacred Vedas. When your time came, you met your end and, as a result of your actions, descended to hell. “In the dreadful realms of Raurava, Kumbhipaka, and Maharaurava, you suffered. In the crucible, O wise king, and torn upon the sword-leaf, you endured great torment. Yama, the Lord of Death, assigned you the form of a crab, O ruler of the earth. “Yet, whatever you had given, recited, performed, or offered—every act of worship to the gods—those merits remained with you. By that future karma, you were placed upon a new path. One day, as a crab, you slowly made your way to the riverbank to play. Suddenly, you were hurled through the sky, struck forcefully by a bird. The agitated wind caused you to slip from the bird’s beak, and you were cast down swiftly by the hand of Shiva, afflicted by the bird’s violent shaking. “Abandoning that worn-out body, as that crab once did, you were transformed by the greatness of a liṅga. By its power, you became the lord of the Vidyādharas. Ascending to heaven, you were welcomed with honor by the hosts of gods. The Rudras recounted your story to the ancient gods, declaring, ‘O lords of the gods, this is the wondrous power of that liṅga now manifest.’ “Released from the womb of a crab, you attained the happiness of heaven. From that time onward, this god has been known as Karkaṭeśvara. You have since returned to earth, regaining a kingdom free from all obstacles and dangers. “Therefore, O king, you should hasten to worship the liṅga once more. By this, your previous karma has been remembered. Those who, after enjoying the pleasures of earth for a long time, merge into that liṅga with their own bodies, O Pārvatī, attain the highest state. “Those who regularly behold the god Karkaṭeśvara, with shining celestial chariots fulfilling all desires, enjoy divine pleasures and the company of thousands of delightful women. When their time there ends, they abide in the abode of Viṣṇu for the appointed period. Joyfully, they then reach the world of Brahmā from Viṣṇu’s world. Indeed, the merit gained by pilgrimage to these holy places equals that of performing the ten-horse sacrifice. “By merely seeing him, all accomplishments are attained. O great goddess, at the root of the king lie prosperity, security, and abundant rains. The king has existed in the Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali yugas alike. And in this world, O Pārvatī, there was a king known by the name Madāndha.