In a wild and untamed forest, teeming with tigers, lions, and elephants, where herds of deer and antelope moved freely, a group of hunters made a startling discovery. Without delay, they hurried to report what they had seen to their master. At that very moment, a wondrous event unfolded. From the king’s body, which was adorned with gleaming white ornaments, a radiant goddess manifested. Having vanquished the bandits who threatened him, she disappeared on the spot, as mysteriously as she had appeared. Freed by her divine intervention, the king awoke instantly, as if roused from a deep slumber. Yet, as the king regained his senses, he was burdened by the weight of his actions. He reflected with a heavy heart, “In this forest, the killing of cows and the killing of Brahmins are truly dreadful sins.” These thoughts tormented him, and he sighed again and again, overcome with remorse. In this state of sorrow, the sage Vāmadeva came upon the king. Though Vīradhanvan was born of the noble lunar dynasty, he had fallen into a pitiable condition. Seeing his suffering, the compassionate sage resolved, “I shall rescue this king, the foremost among men.” Addressing the distressed ruler, Vāmadeva spoke gently, “O king, lord of the earth, renowned as Vīradhanvan, listen to my words. “In a previous birth, you lived as a hunter, roaming the forest and killing deer. Once, on the sacred day of Ekādaśī in the bright half of the month of Phālguna, you witnessed, with wonder, the worship performed by devoted people. The power of that momentous vision has borne fruit: you have now become a king of great strength and valor. All your enemies were destroyed by her alone—the goddess who intervened on your behalf—and auspiciousness awaits you. “I have understood all this through the power of my asceticism and the strength of yoga. Now, I will protect you. Listen carefully to my supreme instructions.” Hearing the sage’s words, King Vīradhanvan asked anxiously, “How can the terrible sins I have incurred from killing cows and Brahmins ever be washed away?” The great sage Vāmadeva replied, “Go, O king, at my command, to the great Kāla forest. There, you will find the destroyer of multitudes of sins, as spoken of in all the Vedas.” Obeying the sage, King Vīradhanvan journeyed to the Kāla forest. There, he beheld the lord with matted locks, Śiva—the god of gods—worshipped by all the world. With deep reverence, the king offered salutations again and again: “Salutations always to Śiva, the universal form! Salutations to the one with matted hair, to Rāma, to the doer who is seized by Māyā! Salutations to the enjoyer, to the smoky one, to the one whose essence is the sky! Salutations to the great darkness-sun, to the destroyer of enemies, to the golden-hued one, to the bewilderer of the bewildered! Salutations to the beautiful one, worshipped by the gods; to the deformed one, to the one beyond nature!” Thus, at that time, the great god Maheśvara was praised. The lord stood before the king, his entire body smeared with sacred ashes, radiant with the enjoyment bestowed by the serpent. His matted locks shone like strings of pearls, bound with the hoods of the king of serpents—white, yellow, and other hues interwoven. Then, the daughter of the mountain, Pārvatī, spoke kindly to the king: “The sin that had become matted within you has departed through seeing me.” Hearing these words from the Lord of gods, King Vīradhanvan was filled with joy. Praised by the heavenly hosts, he ascended a celestial chariot, created by his own desire. From that time forth, the liṅga at that place became known as Jaṭeśvara, for there, the matted sins of devotees are instantly destroyed. Those who always worship the god of gods, Jaṭeśvara, are assured of having their sins removed and of attaining supreme auspiciousness.