Origin of Somanatha Jyotirlingam

The rishis said

Now please tell us the greatness of the jyotirlingas. Tell us everything about their origin, as you have heard it.

Suta replied

Brahmanas, listen. I will tell you their greatness and origin, briefly, according to my understanding, as I heard it from my virtuous guru. Best of sages, no one can tell their greatness even in a hundred years, but I will tell it. Among them Somanatha is called the first. Sages, first hear its greatness attentively. The great-souled Daksha had twenty-seven daughters, lords among sages, and gave them to Chandra. The other daughters were given to the twin Ashvins and others. Having gained Chandra as husband, they shone especially. Having gained them, Chandra too always shone, as a jewel set in gold shines more and gold set with a jewel dazzles more. Now hear what happened in time. Among all his wives he loved Rohini most. The others he did not love as much. So they were miserable and went to their father for refuge. They went to him and told him their miseries. Hearing it, Daksha too grieved. Brahmanas, he went to Chandra and spoke to him in conciliatory words.

Daksha said

Store of digits, you were born in a bright line. Among those who have taken refuge with you, how can there be higher and lower? If you have done this, you should not do it again. It is said such differences in conduct lead to hell.

Suta continued

Daksha himself begged Chandra, his son-in-law, and being fully assured, went back to his abode. Chandra, deluded, did not follow his words. This was because of the power of Shiva's maya, which deludes the whole universe. Auspiciousness is experienced by those for whom it is ordained; if inauspiciousness is destined, how can there be auspiciousness? Disabled by that powerful destiny, Chandra ignored those words. Attached to Rohini, he gave no heed to the others. Daksha understood good policy. Hearing this, Daksha himself was filled with sorrow, went to Chandra and begged him again.

Daksha said

Chandra, listen. I have asked you again and again, but since you paid no attention, you will suffer from consumption.

Suta continued

As soon as he said this, Chandra suffered from consumption. When the moon began to decay, there was great wailing. All the gods and rishis wondered, "What should be done now? What will happen?" Sage, they were agitated and filled with sorrow.

Chandra told Shakra and the other gods everything. With Vasishtha and the other rishis they went and took refuge with Brahma. Sage, having gone there, they told him everything. Greatly agitated, the gods and rishis bowed to Brahma and praised him. Hearing them, Brahma was filled with great wonder. So that they could hear, he spoke words praising Shiva's maya.

Brahma said

Alas, a great misery has come on all the worlds. Chandra has always been wicked, and Daksha has now cursed him. Chandra is wicked in every way and has done many such things. Rishis and gods, hear what Chandra did earlier. The wicked one went to Brihaspati's house and carried off Tara. For the sake of this wife he then joined with the daityas, and a battle between daityas and gods followed. When Atri and I forbade it, the moon returned Tara. But seeing that she was pregnant, Jiva said he would not accept her. When we forbade him that, he accepted her reluctantly. He said, "I will accept her if she gives up the foetus. Since this is not my son, she should throw it away." When the excellent sages asked her whose son it was, she answered that it was Soma's. At this I removed the foetus and he accepted her. In this way Chandra has done many kinds of wicked things. But describing them afresh serves no purpose. Why does he keep doing such things? What has happened has happened and certainly cannot be undone. So listen attentively. I will tell you a supreme method. With the gods, let Chandra go to the auspicious field of Prabhasa. Let him follow the norms and worship Shiva with the Mahamrityunjaya mantra. In front of Isha let Chandra constantly torment himself with austerities. If Shiva is pleased, he will remove his consumption.

Suta continued

Hearing Brahma, the gods and rishis went back to where Daksha and the moon were. Reassuring Daksha, all the immortals and rishis took Chandra and went to Prabhasa. They called in the waters of all the noble holy places, Sarasvati and the others. By the norms they set up an earthen lingam and worshipped it with the Mahamrityunjaya mantra. All the gods and rishis, stores of purity, established Chandra at Prabhasa and gladly went back to their own abodes.

For six months Chandra constantly tormented himself with austerities. He worshipped Vrishadhvaja with the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, chanting it a million times. With an unwavering mind he meditated with the Mahamrityunjaya mantra. Seeing this, the lord and god Shankara, affectionate to his devotees, was pleased. The lord appeared before his devotee and spoke.

Shankara said

Fortunate one, ask a boon, whatever your mind desires. Moon, I am pleased with you. I will give you every excellent boon.

Chandra replied

Lord of the gods, if you are pleased, what can I not accomplish? Shankara, still, please counter the consumption in my body. Please pardon all else I have done and always do what is good for me.

Suta continued

Thus addressed, Shiva spoke.

Shiva said

Chandra, in one fortnight you will wane by one digit each day. In the other fortnight you will wax by one digit constantly.

Suta continued

At this the gods' minds were filled with joy. Brahmanas, all the rishis quickly gathered there, pronounced blessings over Chandra, and with joined hands lovingly bowed and prayed to Shiva. The gods said, "Lord of the gods, Mahadeva, Paramesha, we bow to you. Lord Shambhu, with Uma, please stay immobile in this spot." In those ancient times Chandra devoutly praised Shankara. He prayed again to the god with form and the god without form. The lord was pleased with the gods. To increase the greatness of the field and Chandra's fame, Shankara stayed in the place named after Chandra. It became famous in the three worlds as Someshvara. Brahmanas, people who worship there can destroy diseases like consumption and leprosy. Blessed is the one who succeeded in his aim. Shankara, lord of the universe, himself stayed in a place named after him in order to purify the universe. There is a pond there, set up by all the gods and afterward divided among themselves by Shiva and Brahma. It destroys all sins and is famous on earth as Chandrakunda. A man who bathes there is freed from all sins. One who merely bathes there for six months is cured of all incurable diseases, consumption and others. Circling Prabhasa gives the same fruits as circling the whole earth. A person's self becomes pure and after death he gains greatness in heaven. A man who sees the Soma lingam is freed from all sins. He gains the fruits his mind desires. After death he gains greatness in heaven. It is said that one gains fruits from visiting excellent holy places, and doubtless all those fruits are gained there. The rishis and gods saw such fruits. Delighted, they took Chandra, cured of consumption, and bowed before Shiva. Praising and circling that holy place, they left. Chandra went back to his former tasks. So I have told you everything about Somesha's origin. Lords among sages, this is how the Someshvara lingam arose. A man who hears of this origin or lets others hear it gains all he desires and is freed from all sins.