Matsyapurana 129.9

129.9

anyadācaritāhārāḥ paṅkenācitavalkalāḥ
magnāḥ śaivālapaṅkeṣu vimalāvimaleṣu ca //

These two began to perform their penances by the side of Maya and caught his fire and energy. They began to look like the three Fires or like the three worlds personified. They remained engaged in their penances, burning, as it were, the three worlds. They lived in water during the winter, warmed themselves with a ring of fire lit up around them during the summer with fierce sun overhead, and stood on their legs in the open space during the rains and began to waste their dear bodies. They lived only on roots and fruits and water and they worshipped with flowers, etc. They used to take their simple fare after one day's interval and the bark of wood that they had on their bodies was besmeared with mud. They practised austerities half immersed in the mud of aquatic plants and thus their minds became freed from all dirt. Their bodies became devoid of all flesh, they became lean and thin, the veins became visible all over their bodies. Owing to their severe austerities, the whole universe became devoid of any lustre, powerless, and began to look dull.—6-11.