Vyaghreshvara

About

Once many learned brahmins were jointly reciting divine prayers to satisfy the various deities and to give them anuprana or power. At the same time, an evil motive started emerging in the mind of Prahlad's maternal grandfather, Dundubhi Nihrad. Dundubhi always wanted to win over the gods. So he thought that he would end all such brahmins who are worshiping at different religious places. In this way the gods will become powerless and they can be easily conquered. For this purpose, the said demon started killing all the brahmins one by one. Once, on the day of Shivratri, near Jyestheshwar, a scholar Brahmin was engrossed in the worship of Shivling. Those Brahmins were so engrossed in the worship of Lord Shiva that they could not know anything about the happenings around them. At the same time Dundubhi reached there and took the form of Vyadra. As he proceeded to kill the brahmin, Lord Shiva himself appeared from the linga and engaged in a fierce battle with Dundubhi. At that time the Lord caught and killed the Vyadra. Before dying, the Vyadra started making a deafening roar, this roar was heard by the whole world. (Kashi Khand Chapter 65) All the devotees of the surrounding reached that place without delay and were very happy to see the death of Vyadra. The devotees started worshiping Lord Shiva there and made a humble request to Lord Shiva to reside in this Linga forever. Then God said Avamastu. This linga was named Vyadhreshwar. The Lord also said that those who worship the Vyadhreshwar Linga, all the obstacles coming in their way will automatically be removed and their life will always be happy. If a warrior goes to the battle field after worshiping Vyadhreshwar Linga, he will definitely get victory. By saying this, Lord Shiva became engrossed in that Linga.