The Greatness of Mahabala Shiva Lingam

Suta said

In the glorious Ikshvaku line there was a king extremely devoted to dharma, named Mitrasaha, the best of all archers. His beloved queen was the auspicious Madayanti, as devoted to dharma as Damayanti was to Nala. King Mitrasaha loved hunting. Once he went with a large army into a dense forest. Roaming there, the king killed a forest-dweller called Kamatha, a wicked and deceitful man who oppressed the good. The dead man's younger brother, a sinner, thought, "I will defeat him by deceit." So the deceitful one came to the king, put on a humble look and said he wished to be a servant. Seeing him and not knowing who he was, the lord of the earth made him superintendent of the kitchen. The king spent some time in the forest, then stopped hunting and gladly returned to his own city. On the day of his father's death rite, the king invited his guru. He brought Vasishtha home and fed him devoutly. In the cook's form, the rakshasa mixed human flesh into the food. Seeing vegetables and meat set before him, the guru said, "King, shame on you. By deceit you have served me human flesh. Since you have been crooked toward me, you will become a rakshasa." But the guru realized the rakshasa had done it, so he softened the curse to twelve years. The king, thinking the curse unjust, lost his senses in rage. He took water in his cupped hands, ready to curse his guru. But his beloved Madayanti, devoted to dharma, fell at his feet and begged him not to curse. Honouring her words, he held back. He let the water fall on his own feet, which were stained by it. Lords among sages, because of that water, from that day the king was known in the world as Kalmashanghri. By his guru's curse, King Mitrasaha became a terrible, violent rakshasa roaming the forest. In that form he was radiant and looked like Yama the Destroyer. Wandering the forest, he ate many creatures and humans.

One day in the forest, looking like the Destroyer, he saw a young, newly wed couple enjoying themselves, a sage and his wife. Suffering from the curse, the man-eating rakshasa seized the sage's young son as a tiger seizes a fawn. Seeing her husband in his grasp, his beloved was terrified. She begged him with piteous words, but though she pleaded in many ways, the contemptible cannibal tore off the brahmana's head and devoured him. Extremely miserable, his virtuous wife wailed. She gathered her husband's bones, lit a pyre and entered the fire, following him. The brahmana lady cursed the king in rakshasa form: "From now on, whenever you lie with a woman, you will die." So saying, the virtuous lady entered the fire. The king knew his guru's curse had a time limit. When it ended, he regained his own form and gladly returned home. He loved union, but Madayanti knew of the curse the virtuous brahmana lady had laid. Fearing widowhood, she held her husband back. Since he had no son, the king no longer cared to enjoy the kingdom. He gave up all his wealth and went to the forest. He saw the guilt of killing a brahmana, which causes terrible grief, following close behind. It was terrible in form and repeatedly reproached him. Because of this ill-omened thing the king's mind was dejected. He tried many methods, japa, vows, sacrifices and more, to be rid of it. Brahmanas, despite all the king's methods, including bathing at holy places, the guilt did not leave him. He went to Mithila. Suffering greatly, he stayed outside the city, deep in thought. Then the king saw the sage Goutama coming. The lord among kings went toward Goutama, a reservoir of purity. Calmed a little on seeing him, he bowed again and again. Asked about his welfare, he sighed long and deep. Glad at his compassionate glance, the king said:

The king said

Sage, this guilt of killing a brahmana is intolerable and is binding me. Father, others cannot see it, but it reproaches me at every step. When I was scorched by the curse, I devoured a brahmana's son. Because of that sin, though I have tried thousands of kinds of atonement, I cannot find peace. Sage, though I have tried many means, peace eludes me and the guilt does not withdraw. Is it because I am evil-souled? But now that I have met you, my birth will plainly be made successful. Seeing you, I am filled with bliss. Pure one, today I take refuge at your lotus feet. Fortunate one, give me peace so that I can find happiness.

Suta continued

So the king spoke to Goutama, ocean of compassion. Goutama taught him a virtuous means of ridding himself of terrible sins.

Goutama said

Virtuous lord among kings, you are blessed. Give up your fear of terrible sins. When Shiva rules, what fear have devotees who take refuge in him? Fortunate king, listen. There is a field called Gokarna, Shiva's abode, which destroys great sins. Since he is established there, even great sinners need not fear even major sins. Shiva himself is installed in the place called Mahabala. Mahabala is the emperor of all Shiva lingams. It destroys all sins and takes four colours in the four yugas. Gokarna is an excellent holy place on the western ocean's shore, and the Shiva lingam there destroys great sins. Many great sinners go there, bathe several times in the holy waters and worship Mahabala, and go on to a destination with Shankara. Lord among kings, you too should go to Gokarna, Girisha's abode. Having gone there, worship the lingam and you will succeed in your aim. Bathe in all the holy waters and worship Mahabala. You will be freed of all sins and gain Shiva's world.

Suta concluded

So the great-souled sage Goutama instructed him. Glad in mind, the king went to Gokarna, bathed in its holy waters and worshipped Mahabala. He was cleansed of the whole flood of his sins and gained a supreme destination with Shambhu. A person who constantly hears this beloved account of Mahabala goes to Shiva's world with twenty-one generations of his line. So I have told you the supreme and wonderful greatness of Mahabala, Girisha's lingam, which destroys all sins.