Taraka Kunda and Tarakeshwara Linga

Vindhyachala: Taraka Kunda and Tarakeshwara Linga:

(Aushanasa Purana - Vindhyachala Mahatmya - 7 to 8)

• Meditation: I meditate on Lord Shiva giving darshan to Tarakasura after his long penance.

• Tarakasura thinking of conquering the worlds: Once demon Tarakasura was thinking of ways to conquer all the worlds. He was thinking how to gain immortality. He was thinking what penance and charity he should perform to obtain that position. He was thinking where he should perform Tapasya. Thus thinking Tarakasura was preparing himself to roam all the places.
(Aushanasa Purana - Vindhyachala Mahatmya - 7)

• Tarakasura meeting sage Pulastya: After coming out of his residence, Tarakasura met sage Pulastya. He humbly asked the sage to suggest a place where he can perform penance (tapasya). The sage suggested Vindhyachala Kshetra and said that by the grace of Jagadamba, penances reach fruition there. The place is of such greatness that those who die there are never born. Hearing this, Tarakasura went to Vindhyachala.
(Aushanasa Purana - Vindhyachala Mahatmya - 7)

• Tarakasura eulogizing Devi in Vindhyachala: Tarakasura went to Vindhyachala Kshetra and seeing the beauty of the place, was filled with joy. He bowed down to Devi there and started eulogizing her. He said that by the power of Shakti only, all things are obtained, and by her grace only he can succeed in penance. He sought permission of Devi to undertake penance in that kshetra. Then Tarakasura started looking for a suitable grove for penance.
(Aushanasa Purana - Vindhyachala Mahatmya - 7)

• Tarakasura performing penance in Vindhyachala: Tarakasura found a place which was full of various flower and fruit trees. There were also elephants, lions, and deers roaming in that region. The place was also filled with songs of various birds. Tarakasura was filled with joy. He created a Shiva Linga on the eastern side of it known as Tarakeshwara Linga. In front of it, he created a kunda known as Tarakeshwara Kunda. There Tarakasura started performing penance by lifting both his hands upwards and looking downwards. Sometimes he ate the fallen leaves, sometimes fruits, sometimes only water and sometimes only inhaled air. In this way, Tarakasura performed penance for one thousand years. Due to that long penance, his body became thin.
(Aushanasa Purana - Vindhyachala Mahatmya - 7)

• Lord Shiva giving darshan to Tarakasura: Due to the uninterrupted Bhakti of Tarakasura, Mahadeva manifested from that Shiva Linga. Lord Shiva was riding a bull, was having the moon on his head, was having the colour of camphor, was highly effulgent, was having matted hairs over his head and was holding the trident. Lord Shiva said that he was pleased with his penance and told him to ask for a boon. Tarakasura eulogized Lord Shiva. Then he asked the boon that he remain invincible to the devas. He also asked the boon that the Linga worshipped by him become famous in the world. Lord Shiva said that the Linga will become famous in the world as Tarakeshwara Linga and the Kunda will also become famous. Then Lord Shiva narrated the greatness of that Linga. Lord Shiva also said that in Kali Yuga, Lingas created by various sages will disappear, but the Tarakeshwara Linga will stay on.
(Aushanasa Purana - Vindhyachala Mahatmya - 7 to 8)