The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Kaumarika-khanda which is section 2 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.
Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa
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The Kaumārikākhaṇḍa (Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa) or Kumārikākhaṇḍa (Kumārikā-khaṇḍa) has 66 chapters and is related to the Cambay pilgrimage region, west India.
Notes regarding the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa:
The section called Kaumārikākhaṇḍa appears to be an independent work mainly for the glorification of the sacred place Mahīsāgara-Saṅgama (‘Confluence of Mahī with the Sea’). In concluding this Khaṇḍa the author specifically states that the sacred episode of the Confluence of Mahī with the Sea is thus described (ii.66.126) and this is followed by the Phala-Śruti of hearing etc. of this. There is a deliberate attempt to integrate the followers of Śiva and Viṣṇu in the last two verses: The devoted listener of (his Khaṇḍa “will go to the region of Rudra” (Rudrasalokatām vrajet |—ii.66.lJ4) and “will go to the region of Viṣṇu” (Vìṣṇupadam prayāti—ii.66.135).
The author of this work (as will be pointed out at relevant places) differs from the legends about Śiva and Skanda as described in the previous section, viz. Kedārakhaṇḍa. Both Kedārakhaṇḍa and Kaumārikākhaṇḍa have their own independent Phala-Śruti verses. Even stylistically the authors of these sections appear different unless we suppose that the author improved his style in the second section, viz. Kaumārikākhaṇḍa.