The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Creation of Yameshvara (Yama-ishvara) which is chapter 12 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the twelfth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 12 - Creation of Yameśvara (Yama-īśvara)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-2. She who was Saṃjñā was remembered as Rājñī and she who was Chāyā was Nikṣubhā. The root √rājṛ (Rāj) is remembered as meaning Dīpti (Shining). Rājā is one who shines always. He is superior to all living beings. Hence he is called Rājā. Since she was the wife of a Rājā she is glorified as Rājñī.
3. The root √kṣubh is used in the sense of agitation. Since (the earth) is motionless it is called Nikṣubhā. Or (it may be thus) since members of her family shall be devoid of Kṣut (hunger).
4-7. Chāyā the divine enters it (the earth). Hence it is remembered as Nikṣubhā.
The (Lord) holding conch, discus and club is born in the family of (that king) who is the Manu in the world now, O highly intelligent one.
On being cursed by his mother, Yama became deficient of foot. He came to Prabhāsa Kṣetra on the earth and performed elaborate penance. O my beloved, he adored the Liṅga for more than ten thousand years. Becoming pleased, I granted him a hundred (i.e. a number of) boons. O goddess of Devas, Yameśvara is well-known there even today. One who visits it on the Yamadvitīyā day never sees Yama’s world.