the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

In olden days, there was a Brahmin named Uttam Mukthi in Avanthika Nagari. He was an orthodox Brahmin. He performed rigorous penance near Uttam Ling Mukthi, a Shivalinga for thirteen years. One day, he went Shipra river for bath. He saw a man coming towards him with a bow and arrow. Panicked, the Brahmin started performing penance and Lord came inside him. Seeing the Brahmin performing penance, the man got feared and dropped his bow and arrow and  performed penance. His body became pure. The Brahmin thought that he  performed penance for thirteen years but did not get any result, but the man attained salvation without any penance. He went to the middle of the river and performed penance. There came a tiger. It was about to attack him but he said "Namo Narayana". After hearing that mantra, the tiger got transformed into a man. The Brahmin asked his whereabouts. He said that in his previous birth, he was Raja Deergha Baahu. He got proud of his talents. So the Brahmins cursed him that he will transform into a tiger and when a Brahmin says "Namo Narayana", he will be back to his own form. The Brahmin asked him the way to attain salvation. The king replied that when he tells the Brahmin about Mukteshwar Mahadev, they will attain salvation. Then, they both went and worshipped the Linga Mukteshwar. Whoever worships this Linga, will be freed from their sins.