The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes The Greatness of Gangeshvara which is chapter 91 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 ninety-first chapter of the Uttarardha of the Kashi-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 91 - The Greatness of Gaṅgeśvara
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Skanda said:
1-4. O sinless one, the greatness of Pārvatīśa has been recounted to you. O sage, listen now to the origin of Gaṅgeśvara, on listening to which one shall attain the merit of a bath in Gaṅgā wherever he may be. When Gaṅgā along with Dilīpa’s son Bhagīratha had a confluence with Cakrapuṣkariṇī Tīrtha in this Ānandakānana, she knew the unparalleled power of the holy spot born of the protection assured by Śaṃbhu. After recollecting the superb benefit of the installation of a Liṅga in Kāśī, a splendid Liṅga was installed by Gaṅgā.
5-9. Rare indeed is the sight of Gangeśvara Liṅga in Kāśī. If a devotee worships Gaṅgeśa on the Daśaharā (tenth day in the bright half of Jyeṣṭha), his sin accumulated in the course of a thousand births perishes instantly.
In Kali age, Gaṅgeśvara Liṅga shall mostly be concealed. It’s sight is conducive to merit unto all men. If the rare Gaṅgeśvara Liṅga is seen by anyone, undoubtedly Gaṅgā is directly seen by him. O son of Mitra and Varuṇa, there is no doubt about this that Gaṅgā, the remover of all sins, is of very rare accessibility in Kali age. Kāśī is of still rare accessibility when Tiṣya (Kali age) arrives.
10-11. More than that, the Liṅga named Gaṅgeśvara is of yet rarer accessibility in Kāśī. The visit thereof is conducive to the destruction of sins. If a devotee listens to the greatness of Gaṅgeśa, he will never fall into a hell. He will obtain the mass of requisite merits and derive whatever is coveted.