Sage Agastya telling the story of brahmana Shivasharman

Southern Journey: Sage Agastya telling the story of brahmana Shivasharman:

(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 7 to 24)

Kashi, Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh

• Meditation: I meditate on Kashi which bestows liberation.

• Sage Agastya telling the story of brahmana Shivasharman: Brahmana Shivasharman was learned and acquired wealth through rightful means. When old age approached Shivasharman realized he has not done enough meritorious works. Shivasharman decided to go for a pilgrimage. He visited Ayodhya, Prayaga and then went to Kashi. Then he visited Mahakala (Avanti or Ujjayini), Kanti (Kanchi), Dwaravati and Mayapuri. At Mayapuri, Shivasharman got afflicted by fever and died. Due to his meritorious deeds, an aerial chariot came from Vaikuntha with attendants Punyashila and Sushila. Shivasharman visited the different Lokas from that aerial chariot. Attendants Punyashila and Sushila described the different Lokas to Shivasharman.
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 7)

• Brahmana Shivasharman enquiring Punyashila - Sushila about different worlds: Brahmana Shivasharman enquired about different worlds (as he saw them from the aerial chariot) from Punyashila and Sushila. The worlds are:

(1) The world of Pishacas (Ghosts)
(2) The world of Guhyakas (Hoarders)
(3) The world of Gandharvas (Singers)
(4) The world of Vidyadharas (Artists)
(5) The world of Samyamini (Yama)
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 8)

(6) The world of Apasaras (Celestial Damsels)
(7) The world of Surya (Sun) (Greatness of Gayatri Mantra) (70 names of Sun God)
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 9)

(8) The world of Indra (Amaravati)
(9) The world of Agni (Lord of South-Eastern quarter) (Archismati or Jyotismati) (Story of Vishvanara and Grihapati)
- Penance of Vishvanara in Kashi: A brahman named Vishvanara adopted the housholder life by marrying Suchismati. They did not have a son. Wife Suchismati desired to have a son like Shiva. To get son, Vishvanara went to Kashi and worshipped the Vireshwara Linga by performing austerities for 13 months. Lord Shiva appeared before him and gave the boon that he Himself will become his son.
(List of Lingas in Kashi) (Greatness of Vireshwara Linga) (Stotra of Shiva - Abhilashashtaka)
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 10)

- Penance of Grihapati in Kashi: Lord Shiva incarnated as the son of Vishvanara. Devas came to see him. Lord Brahma gave him the name Grihapati. Sage Narada later came and predicted that some calamity through lightning will befall the son during his 12th year. Hearing this the parents were overwhelmed with grief. Grihapati consoled them and decided to propitiate Mrityunjaya. Grihapati went to Kashi and performed austerities for 2 years after installing a Linga. Lord Shiva appeared first in the form of Indra with thunderbolt to test him, and then in his true form. Lord Shiva bestowed the position of Agni (Lord of South-East quarter) to Grihapati and named the Linga as Agineeshwara Linga.
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 11)

(10) The world of Nirrita (Lord of South-Western quarter) (Punyajanas) (Story of Pingaksha)
- Service of Pingaksha: Pingaksha was the ruler of sabara tribe living in the Vindhya forest. He protected the travellers who passed through his region. Once his uncle Taraksha waylaid a caravan passing through the forest. Pingaksha somehow saved them, but himself got wounded and died. Lord made him the lord of the Nairitas (Punyajanas) and lord of the South-West quarter.

(11) The world of Varuna (Lord of Western quarter) (Digging Wells, Tanks, Lakes, growing Trees) (Story of Suchisman, the son of Kardama Prajapati)
- Penance of Suchisman in Kashi: Suchisman, the son of Kardama Prajapati, during his childhood, was carried away by an alligator. Lord Shiva protected him since his father Kardama was a great devotee of Shiva. When Suchisman grew up, he went to Kashi, installed a Linga and performed penance for 5 thousand years. Lord Shiva was pleased and made him the lord of all waters and aquatic beings (and also lord of the Western quarter). Lord Shiva also named the Linga as Varunesha Linga.
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 12)

(12) The world of Vayu (Gandhavati) (Lord of North-Western quarter) (Story of Putatman, Pavamaneshwara Linga)
- Penance of Putatma in Kashi: Putatma, the son of sage Kashyapa, performed a severe penance in Kashi for 10 thousand centuries. Lord Shiva made him the lord of a quarter. Putatma became Vayudeva and the Linga became known as Pavamaneshwara Linga.

(13) The world of Kubera (Alaka) (Story of Yajnadatta and Gunanidhi, Gunanidhi becomes Dama, then Lord of Alaka, Kubereshwara Linga)
- Penance in Kashi: Gunanidhi, the son of Yajnadatta fell in evil ways. But due to the merit of tearing a corner of cloth to light a lamp of Shiva, after death he was protected by the ganas of Shiva from the ganas of Yama. In later birth, he performed a severe penance in Kashi for 10 thousand centuries by installing a Linga. Lord Shiva made him Kubera and the Linga became known as Kuberesha Linga.
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 13)

(14) The world of Rudra (Rudra Loka) (Lord of North-Eastern quarter) (Eleven Rudras)
- Penance of eleven Rudras in Kashi: Eleven Rudras performed penance in Kashi. The Linga became known as Ishanesha Linga.

(15) The world of Soma (Soma Loka) (Atri performed penance and his semen virile flowed upwards and became Moon, Soma fell on Earth, Herbs originated, Penance of Soma, Soma performed Rajasuya Yagna, Chandreshwara Linga, Siddhayogishwari)
- Penance of Soma in Kashi: Soma installed a Linga named Chandresha Linga and performed penance in Kashi.
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 14)

(16) The world of Nakshatras (Stars) (Uduloka) (Penance of 60 daughters of Daksha, Nakshatreshwara, Zodiacs beginning with Mesha)
- Penance of the daughters of Daksha in Kashi: They installed the Nakshatreshwara Linga on the bank of river Varana near Sangameshwara and performed penance.

(17) The world of Budha (Soma abducting Tara, Birth of Budha, Penance of Budha, Budheshwara)
- Penance of Budha in Kashi: Budha installed a Linga named Budheshwara Linga and performed penance in Kashi.
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 15)

(18) The world of Shukra (Venus) (Penance of Shukra and getting Mrtyusanjeevani, Nandin takes away Shukra and Shiva swallows him; Shukra exits body of Shiva as semen virile; story of penance of Shukra, Shukresha Linga)
- Penance of Shukra in Kashi: Shukra installed a Linga and performed penance in Kashi. (Shukreshwara Linga)
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 16)

(19) The world of Lohitanga (Mars)
(20) The world of Guru (Jupiter)
(21) The world of Shani (Saturn)
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 17)

(22) The world of the Saptarshis (Seven Sages) (Marichi, Atri, Pulaha, Pulastya, Kratu, Angiras, Vasishtha) (Their wives are - Sambhuti, Anasuya, Kshama, Priti, Sannati, Smriti and Urja (Arundhati))
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 18)

(23) The world of Dhruva (Story of Dhruva)
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 19 to 21)

(24) The world of Maharloka (People of austerities who have become sinless)
(25) The world of Janaloka (Mental sons of Brahma like Sanaka Sanandana and other yogis)
(26) The world of Tapoloka (Vairajas)
(27) The world of Satyaloka (Brahma) (Brahma eulogizes Kashi)
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 22)

(28) The world of Vishnuloka (Vishnu)
(29) The world of Kailsha (Shiva)
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 23)

• Shivasharman attaining salvation: Shivasharman attained salvation after taking birth in the world and finally leaving the body in Kashi
(Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda - 24)

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