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I read this story in relation to the 6th Jyotirling, Bheemshankar, although I have never heard this story before and anywhere else.

According to the legends, once a demon called Bheem lived with his mother Karkatee in the dense forests of Daakinee, on the lofty ranges of the Sahyaadri. It is said that Bheem was so cruel that everyone was scared of him. But what tormented Bheem was his curiosity regarding his own existence. One day, Bheem urged his mother to tell him who his father was and why had he abandoned them in the wilderness of the forest. His mother revealed that he was the son of Kumbhkarn, the younger brother of the mighty King Raavan - the King of Lankaa. Bheem’s mother Karkatee also told him that Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Lord Raam annihilated Kumbhkarn. This infuriated Bheem and he vowed to avenge Lord Vishnu.

Bheem performed severe penance to please Lord Brahmaa. The compassionate creator was pleased by the dedicated devotee and granted him immense powers. With so much power, Bheem began to cause havoc in the three worlds. He was hell bent in the path of destruction of Dharm. He defeated King Indra and Lord Vishnu and conquered the Heavens. He also defeated a staunch devotee of Lord Shiv - Kaamroopeshwar and put him in the dungeons. All this angered the Gods and they along with Lord Brahmaa beseeched Lord Shiv to come for their rescue to which Lord Shiv agreed.

Tyrant Bheem asked Kaamroopeshwar to worship him instead of Lord Shiv. When Kaamroopeshwar refused, Bheem raised his sword to strike the Shiv Ling. But as soon as he raised his sword, Lord Shiv appeared before him in full magnificence. Then the terrible war began between Bheem and Shiv. Holy sage Naarad Jee appeared and requested Lord Shiv to put an end to this war. It was then that Lord Shiv reduced the evil demon to ashes and thus concluded the saga of tyranny. All the Gods and the holy sages present there requested Lord Shiv to make this place his abode. Lord Shiv thus manifested himself in the form of the Bheemshankar Jyotirling. It is believed that the sweat that poured forth from Lord Shiv’s body after the battle formed the Bheemarathee River.

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