Greatness of Mahabala

Suta said

Brahmanas, hear devoutly of Shiva's lingam in the western direction, famous on earth. In the city of Kapila there are two extremely divine Shiva lingams, Kala and Rameshvara. Mahasiddheshvara is said to be on the shore of the western ocean and gives dharma, wealth, desire and liberation. The excellent field of Gokarna is on the western ocean's shore. It destroys sins like killing a brahmana and as fruits grants everything desired. In Gokarna there are crores and crores of Shiva lingams, and at every step countless holy places. Why say more? Shiva's lingams are directly present everywhere in Gokarna, and holy places are in all its waters. Son, great sages have described them in the Puranas. It is white in krita yuga, deep red in treta, yellow in dvapara and dark in kali. Mahabala has gone all the way down into the depths of the seven nether regions. But when the terrible kali yuga comes, it will turn soft. Great sinners who have worshipped Shiva's Mahabala lingam in Gokarna have gained a destination with Shankara. Sages, at auspicious star-times, those who go to Gokarna and worship devoutly doubtless become like Rudra himself. A human who worships Shiva's lingam in Gokarna on some occasion goes toward a destination with Brahma. For the welfare of Brahma, Vishnu and the other gods, the god Shankara is always present there and is known as Mahabala. The rakshasa Ravana, leader of hordes, did terrible austerities and, having gained the lingam, set it up in Gokarna. To please the lingam, Vishnu, Brahma, great Indra, the Vishvadevas, hosts of Maruts, the Adityas, the Vasus, the two Dasras, the moon and stars and other gods with their companions come in their celestial cars and stay at the eastern gate. Yama, Death himself, Chitragupta, Pavaka, the ancestors and the Rudras are at the southern gate. Varuna, lord of rivers, Ganga and the many rivers are at the western gate serving Mahabala. Vayu, Kubera, Deveshi Bhadrakalika and Chandika and the other Matrikas are at the northern gate. All the gods, gandharvas, ancestors, siddhas, charanas, vidyadharas, kimpurushas, kinnaras, guhyakas, birds, many kinds of pishachas, vetalas, very strong daityas, Shesha and the other nagas, siddhas and all the sages praise the god and bow to Mahabala. They bow cheerfully and gain their desires. Many worship the lord and torment themselves in excellent austerities, and gain supreme siddhi and happiness in this world and the next. Shiva's lingam at Gokarna is called the gate to liberation. Brahmanas, the one called Mahabala is worshipped and praised. In particular, if Mahabala is worshipped on the fourteenth of the dark fortnight in Magha, liberation is gained even by sinners. At the great festival on this Shiva tithi, great people of the four varnas come from all directions and regions: women, the aged and children, people of the four ashramas. Having seen the lord of the gods there, they succeed in their aims. By the power of Shiva's lingam of Mahabala, a chandali who worshipped there swiftly went to Shiva's world.