Rudra's Arrival in Kashi

Suta said

Best of rishis, listen. Now I will tell you the greatness of Vishveshvara, who destroys great sins. Everything one sees in the world is only matter. His own nature is consciousness and bliss, unchanging and eternal. He is kaivalya, the alone, yet he wished for a second, and so the saguna form called Shiva arose. He divided himself into masculine and feminine: the masculine form is Shiva and the feminine is Shakti. Purusha and Prakriti, both, were made from that form whose nature is consciousness and bliss. The form from which they arose could not be seen. Unable to see their mother and father, Prakriti and Purusha were filled with doubt. A voice came from the nirguna paramatman: "For the sake of fine creation, you must practise austerity." They answered: "Lord Shiva, there is no place for austerity. Where are we to base ourselves to do as you say?" Then an auspicious energy spread out over five kroshas and became a lovely city, equipped with everything, which nirguna Shiva made and sent. It stayed in the sky near Purusha. Hari settled there, wishing to create, and for a very long time he practised austerity in meditation. From his effort many streams of water began to flow, and they covered the void so that nothing could be seen. Vishnu looked and wondered, "What is this marvel?" and shook his head. An earring fell from him in front of the lord, and from it arose the great tirtha Manikarnika. The five-kroshas expanse floated in the flood. Then nirguna Shiva quickly lifted it up on his trident. Vishnu slept there with his wife Prakriti, and at Shankara's command Brahma was born from the lotus in his navel. By Shiva's instruction Brahma began a marvellous work of creation. He made the cosmic egg with its fourteen worlds, which sages say spans fifty crore yojanas. Thinking, "In this egg, bound by karma, how will beings reach me?" Shiva released Panchakroshi. "To my mind this brings auspiciousness to the world and destroys karma. It manifests liberation. Kashi leads to the gift of knowledge and is very dear to me. The lingam of Avimukta was set up by the paramatman himself. You who were born as a part of me, never abandon this field." So saying, Hara released Kashika from his trident and brought it down to the world of mortals. It is not destroyed when Brahma's day ends. Shiva holds it up on his trident then, and when Brahma begins to create again it is set down. It is called Kashi because it drags out karma. The lingam of Avimukteshvara is always established in Kashi. It gives liberation even to those who have done grave sins. Other kinds of liberation such as sarupya can be had elsewhere, but only here do living beings gain sayujya, the best. Those who find no destination elsewhere find one in Varanasi. Panchakroshi is very holy and destroys the sin of killing crores of beings. All the immortals long to die here, and how much more others. It grants pleasure and liberation and is always dear to Shankara. Brahma, Vishnu, siddhas, yogis, sages and all in the three worlds praise it.

Even if I spoke for a hundred years I could not tell all of Kashi's greatness, but I will speak as I can. The lord of Kailasa is dark outside and sattvic within, beyond the gunas, yet when he takes the gunas he is famed as Kalagni. Bowing again and again, Rudra said: "Vishveshvara, Mahesha, I am yours without doubt. Mahadeva, show me your mercy. I am your son and Amba's. For the welfare of the worlds, stay here always. Lord of the universe, I pray to you to be our saviour." Avimukta, self-controlled, begged him again and again, tears of joy in his eyes. "Lord of the gods, Mahadeva, best medicine for the ailments of time, you are truly lord of the three worlds, served by Brahma, Achyuta and others. Accept the city of Kashi as your capital. For this unthinkable pleasure I will stay here in meditation. Apart from you no one can grant liberation or wishes. So stay here always with Uma for the world's good. Sadashiva, save all beings from the ocean of samsara. Hara, accomplish the work of your devotees. I pray to you again and again." Entreated so, Vishvanatha Shankara, who rules over everyone, stayed there for the good of the worlds. From the day Hara arrived in Kashi, Kashi became the best of places.