Together they prepared the mixture, carefully combining the moist sand with the water until it became firm enough to hold its shape. Karna worked patiently, pressing the mixture together and gradually shaping it with his hands. The man followed his instructions, his movements becoming more confident as the form slowly emerged beneath their fingers.
The base took shape first. Then the middle. Finally, Karna carefully shaped the rounded upper portion. Neither of them spoke for some time. When they finished, a complete Shivalinga stood before them.
The man's face brightened. For the first time, there was hope in his eyes. Karna helped him prepare for the Abhishekam, and the man began pouring the sacred water over the Shivalinga while offering his prayers to Mahadeva.
The water flowed over the newly formed Shivalinga. Then something strange happened. The earthen Shivalinga began to change. Its dark surface gradually became lighter, then whiter. Within moments, the entire Shivalinga had turned completely white, shining with a soft radiance unlike anything Karna had seen from an ordinary earthen form.
Karna stared at it. He had no idea what was happening. His eyes remained fixed upon the Shivalinga as a strange thought entered his mind. *What is this? Is this another test? And if so, what is its purpose?*
Before he could understand what was happening, he turned his head. A blinding flash of light erupted beside him.
Karna instinctively raised his arm against the radiance.
Then everything stopped. The river ceased moving. The leaves stopped in the middle of their motion. Even the water falling from the man's vessel seemed frozen in the air. Time itself had become still.
Karna slowly lowered his arm. Within the brilliant light before him, a form began to emerge, turning into Lord Shiva.
This isn't the same as Lord Shiva appearing when he blesses with boons. This is more like a divine projection of the Shivalinga itself.
Karna immediately joined his palms.
Mahadeva looked toward the Shivalinga, then toward Karna. "Today, you have liberated a soul that had been waiting for a long time, through Me. Impressed by your act, I bless this Shivalinga. It shall be called Syapaksayeshvara Linga. Whoever comes to this Shivalinga and performs Abhishekam with a pure heart and sincere devotion toward Me, I shall lift the curses imposed upon them when they are worthy of such release."
Mahadeva's gaze then turned toward Karna. "While I cannot lift the curse upon you, as it is a part of your destiny… I permit you to take it to your home. As long as Syapaksayeshvara Linga remains within your household, no malicious gaze, envy, or ill-wishing directed toward your family or household shall take effect. Those who regularly perform Abhishekam and sincerely worship Me through this Shivalinga shall be purified of negative influences, and My blessings shall remain upon them."
Karna bowed his head. "Mahadeva…"
But before he could say anything more, the divine radiance began to fade. Lord Shiva disappeared. Time resumed. The river flowed again. The leaves moved with the wind. The water from the man's vessel continued its descent as though nothing had happened.
Karna remained completely still for several moments. He stared at the Shivalinga. There was now a profound stillness within him, as though his mind was struggling to catch up with what had just occurred.
Then something else caught his attention.
Karna turned. His expression changed immediately.
Only moments ago he had been looking at the same poor man who had been struggling to form a Shivalinga, and now the human figure was nowhere to be seen.
In his place stood a Vanara nearly eight feet tall, broad across the shoulders and heavily built, with long arms, powerful limbs and the unmistakable face of a monkey, exactly like the descriptions Karna had heard in ancient texts.
For several moments Karna simply looked at him, trying to understand what had happened.
He had read about the Vanaras in the ancient histories, about their role in the war of Lanka and their service to Bhagwan Rama, but those beings belonged to an age that had passed long before his own. The Vanaras had disappeared from the world generations ago, and Karna had never imagined that he would actually stand before one.
The creature before him, however, did not appear threatening. His large eyes carried gratitude rather than hostility, and the moment he saw Karna's bewilderment, he brought his hands together and bowed deeply.
"Hey, Rajan, thank you for your help," the Vanara said. "For years I have been cursed to live in the body of a man, unable to leave this place. You must certainly be a divya purush and a great devotee of Mahadeva."
Karna remained silent for a moment, still trying to process what he was seeing. He had encountered Rakshasas, Yakshinis, Pishachas, and beings of many different kinds during his travels, so the existence of a Vanara should not have been enough to surprise him this much, yet there was something different about this encounter.
At least, that's what he felt.
Karna looked at him carefully before asking, "Who are you, Mahodaya? You look like a Vanara described in the texts about the Puranas, but I thought the Vanaras had become extinct long ago."
The question came naturally, because there was no other explanation he could find.
The Vanara smiled faintly. "Hey warrior, my name is Gavaksha. I am a warrior who served under King Sugriva, and I participated in Bhagwan Rama's war against Lanka."
Karna's eyes widened slightly at the name.
Gavaksha noticed his reaction and continued without hurry, as though recounting events from a distant but still painful part of his life. "After the war was over, I continued to serve King Sugriva. I remained in Kishkindha and carried out the duties given to me until one day I was sent on a mission to the Himalayas to gather certain herbs on the orders of our king. I came here and encountered some Asuras. I fought them, but during the battle I accidentally destroyed a Shivalinga that stood upon the shore of this river. The River Goddess Champa became angry with me and cursed me to remain in the form of a human until I created another Shivalinga in its place. I tried many times, Rajan, but I could never complete one. Every attempt failed, and I could not free myself from the curse. I did not understand why until today. I needed the help of the one who was fated to be my king, and without him I could never complete the Shivalinga."
Gavaksha took a slow breath and looked toward the white Shivalinga that now stood beside them. "And now, because of you, I have been freed. What is your name, Rajan?"
Karna's expression softened. He joined his palms and gave the Vanara the respect he deserved before introducing himself. "My name is Karna, the mortal son of Suryanarayana and Devi Sangya, disciple of Bhagwan Parashurama and King of Dakshina Kalinga." He spoke without embellishment, simply giving the identity by which he was known, but the effect upon Gavaksha was immediate. The Vanara stared at him with open surprise.
"Suryaputra?"