Chapter 10 of 23 · Kailasa Samhita · Overall chapter 375 of 464
Suta's Instructions
Suta leaves the sages for a year-long pilgrimage - bathing at the southern ocean and at Shrikalahasti, where he spends four months in devoted worship - before an inner vision of his own guru and a voice from the sky recall him to Naimisharanya to resume the teaching.
Vyasa said
When Suta left, the sages were amazed and worried, and spoke among themselves, dejected at having forgotten. What the lord among sages told us of Vamadeva's views we have forgotten, and this is not right. When will we see that noble sage again? His supreme sight destroys the torrents of misery in this ocean of worldly life. By the merit we earned worshipping Maheshvara, may the lord of sages quickly come before us. Bull among sages, so thought the sages, who stayed there worshipping Vyasa's disciple in their hearts, eager to see him again. At the end of a year the great sage returned from Kashi, full of knowledge and devotion to Shiva, he who lights the meaning of the Puranas. Seeing Suta coming the sages were delighted. They rose and honoured and worshipped him with a seat and arghya, and, smiling, the tiger among sages greeted them too. He bathed happily in the very purifying waters of the Jahnavi, offered sesame and rice oblations to rishis, gods and ancestors, returned to the bank, cleaned his garment and put it on, rinsed twice and wore ash with Sadyojata and other mantras. The lord among sages cleaned himself properly, put on a rudraksha garland and did the daily rites, wearing the Tripundra as directed. Full of virtuous devotion he bowed repeatedly and worshipped Vishveshvara, Uma's beloved, with his son and the lord of ganas, then by the rules worshipped the lord Kalabhairava, circled three times, bowed five times, circled again and lay like a rod on the ground. He praised him with supreme hymns, remembered his lotus feet, chanted the five-syllable mantra a hundred and eight times, stood in front and asked Maheshvara's forgiveness. In the middle of the Muktimandapa he worshipped Chandesha. The Veda-expert sages sat in their seats, and all used mantras and bowed. To strengthen their feelings he then spoke to the lords among sages.
Suta said
Wise ones, firm in vows, you are blessed. I have come here for you. Now hear the account. After telling you the meaning of Pranava I went to visit tirthas. After leaving this spot I went to the southern ocean shore, bathed and by the rules worshipped Devi Kanyamayi Shivaa. Then I again went to the banks of the Suvarnamukhari and reached the very wonderful city named after Mount Shrikalahasti. I bathed in the Suvarnamukhari, offered oblations to gods and rishis, and, full of devotion, showed the gestures and remembered Girisha. I worshipped Kalahastisha, bright as the moonstone, whose five supremely wonderful faces look west. Even seeing him once destroys everything harmful. He is lord of the three gunas and gives every siddhi, enjoyment and liberation. Then, full of devotion, I worshipped Shivaa at his right, the bud from which knowledge sprouts, the mother of the universe. I chanted the five-syllable mantra one thousand one hundred and eight times, circled, praised and bowed repeatedly. I lovingly circled the mountain every day with a joyful mind and kept my rules daily. By the favour of Devi, the bud of germinating knowledge, I stayed there four months. Once I had spread cloth, antelope skin and kusha on a seat and, seated, sank my senses in samadhi on supreme Rudra, supreme and complete bliss and consciousness. I realised "I am Shiva" and my mind was freed of all anxiety. Then my virtuous guru, ocean of compassion, appeared in the lotus of my heart, like a dark cloud, with tawny matted hair bright as lightning, tall, holding a water-pot and staff and clothed in antelope skin, all his limbs marked with auspicious signs by the ash, the radiant Tripundra on his forehead, rudraksha for ornament and two large eyes like red lotus petals. Believers, as soon as I saw him a wonderful thing happened: I was deluded and lost my senses. When I opened my eyes I wept, and the tears ran down like a mountain stream. Then an unseen voice spoke from the sky, wonderful, brahmanas, listen lovingly: son of a suta, most fortunate one, go to the city of Varanasi; the sages you taught earlier are waiting there for you, very eager and fasting for your auspicious visit. Saying this the voice stopped. I rose at once and, full of devotion to the divinity and Devi, circled again and lay like a rod on the ground twelve times. Following my guru's command and understanding what Shiva and Shivaa want, I quickly left that kshetra and came here, travelling forty days. Best of sages, show me your favour and tell me what I should speak to you about now.
Vyasa concluded
Hearing Suta, the rishis were delighted in mind. Tiger among sages, they bowed to Vyasa again and again and spoke.
Retold in our own words from Bibek Debroy's English translation of the Shiva Purana (Penguin Classics). Names, numbers and the order of events follow the source.