Mallikarjuna

Suta says he has already told the rishis about Kumara's divine conduct but will tell this part again, because it destroys sins. Kumara, Shiva's son and the great enemy of Taraka, had gone around the earth and come back to Kailasa. There the divine rishi Narada told him all about Ganesha's marriage. His mind was in a whirl.

Kumara bowed to his parents and, though they tried to hold him back, went off to Mount Krouncha.

Girija was miserable at the separation. Shambhu comforted her: why grieve, beloved, your son will come back. She paid no attention, so Shankara sent the devas and rishis to bring Kumara home. They went cheerfully, bowed to him, praised him and tried every kind of persuasion. Kumara, in the grip of great pride, ignored the prayers of the devas and the command of Shiva, the guru of his lineage. The gods returned to Shiva, bowed and went home.

Parvati's grief grew, and Shambhu too was dejected, following the ways of the world. Out of love they went to the place where their son was. Kumara did not return their affection. Learning that they had come, and feeling no love for them, he left that mountain and moved three yojanas away.

So Shiva and Shivaa stayed on at Krouncha, in forms full of energy. Out of affection for their son, they go there on every parva day. Shiva himself goes on amavasya, and Parvati goes on purnima.

That is the day the Mallikarjuna lingam originated, and it is famous in the three worlds. Suta says that anyone who sees it has all sins destroyed and receives whatever he desires. He lists wealth, grain, prosperity, fame and freedom from disease, and says the seer does not suffer the distress of a mother's womb again. Suta calls Mallikarjuna the second jyotirlinga.

This is the Purana's own statement of the lingam's fruits. Note that the text places the story at Mount Krouncha, while the Shata Rudra list names the site Shrishaila or Shrigiri, which is where the temple stands today.