The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.49

v2.c17.49

“Bharadvāja continued, ‘Having said this, the great Lord Sambhu settled to the south side of Viṣṇu, in the form of a *liṅgam*, the grantor of all the four kinds of blessings: its root or lower part was resplendent as crystal; sapphire blue was its middle; and ruby-coloured its upper part. Such was the *liṅgam* of the lord of the three regions (Tribhuvaneśvara). Thenceforward, O noble Brāhmaṇas, Maheśvara has been in this great sacred place. He is surrounded by ten millions of *liṅgams*, having Vāsudeva as their guardian deity. Those who behold that *liṅgam* at Ekāmra obtain in their palms expiation for ten thousand murders of Brāhmaṇas. Thus having obtained permission from the eternal Vāsudeva, Śambhu presides at the grove of Ekāmra as the lord of ten millions of *liṅgams*.’ ”²⁴