SOMANATH

As advised Soma forthwith descended at Prabhasa pattana where Saraswathi meets the sea and worshipped Sparsa Linga of Somanath of the size of an egg. And did penance for 4000 years. Pleased with Soma's austerity and penance, Sadasiva appearing said that he could not remove the effects of curse totally, but would lift it partially. According to it, he would wane for a fortnight and wax during the rest of the month. As Soma regained Prabha-lustre at this place it was called Prabhasa pattana. Soma then made a humble supplication that the Iord must be called by the name of his devotee Soma - the Moon.  Hence, Somanath. Further He should be his Kuladevata. And so Maheswar is called Somanath since then. Soon Soma was advised and initiated by Brahma Himself to erect a shrine for Siva. In addition, Brahma then cleft open the earth and lifted a shining Swamyambhu Linga of the size of egg covered with honey and darbha grass with a Brahmasila over it. The Linga thus taken out was installed by Brahma himself.

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