Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2026

c9.2026

When the phallus fell down the whole universe shook and the maharṣis were alarmed. A very intelligent maharṣi among them said :—“We know not the real facts about the great ascetic. Let us take refuge in Brahmā. He may know the facts.” Accordingly the maharṣis went to Brahmā, who found fault with their ignorance and indiscretion and asked them to shed their anger and please Śiva. Accordingly they went to Kailāsa and praised Śiva, who appeared to them and told them as follows :—“You may now return. The phallus will belong to you. I shall be pleased if you would duly install it. Nothing will be impossible to those who worship my phallus with devotion. Even sins consciously committed will be removed by the worship of my phallus. You install the phallus you struck down in the great pond of Sannihita. That will achieve for you all your desires. Even the Devas will worship it under the name ‘Sthāṇu’. Being installed at Sthāṇvīśvara it will be known as Sthāṇvīśvara also. Constant meditation upon Sthāṇu will remove all sins. The sight of Sthāṇu will bring about salvation.”