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It
begins with Devala, an asramite of commendable austere life, serving
an illustrious sage-seer living on the slopes of the Himalayas.
While collecting flowers one day for regular worship, he found a
serpent near a bush. Frightened of evil consequences, if left alive,
he killed it. The Guru knowing his impetuous act, cursed him. In
consequence, his head turned into serpent's hood. So was called
Nagarshi. When prayed for mercy with streaming eyes, his Guru said
that he would get original form with deep meditation and Siva
Panchakshara mantra japa. Nagarshi following the advice went on a
pilgrimage to worship Maheswar in several holy places across the
country. He was advised in his dream by Lord Siva Himself that he
would find a Sivalinga in Bahularanya, the self-same one made by
Arjuna out of earth to offer prayers to Him after defeat at His
hands in the guise of Kirata. And he would be redeemed at a place
where the linga would get stuck up while carrying it. As said, he
found it and started carrying it. In a jungle near a seashore tank,
he was pelted with stones by boys due to his strange shape. To
escape from them, he hid himself in a bush for one full night. In
the morning, when he restarted his further pilgrimage, the Linga got
stuck up and could not be moved. He decided to lift it with due
prayers after bath. He got down into the tank but never came out of
it. He reached Kailas with the infinite mercy of Siva, as he was
redeemed of his curse. The tank came to be called Rishinagakulam
afterwards. The city that developed around the Sivan temple now goes
by the name of Ernakulam, the corrupt form of Rishinagakulam - the
tank into which Nagarshi entered and disappeared.
It
lies in the state of Kerala and one of the big cities having all
facilities.
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