The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Antargriha Yatra which is chapter 100h 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 zeroth chapter 100h of the Uttarardha of the Kashi-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 100h - Antargṛha Yātrā
77. At the outset, the early morning bath is taken. Then the five Vināyakas are bowed to. A devotee then makes obeisance to Viśveśa standing in the Nirvāṇamaṇḍapa.
78. The devotee resolves thus: ‘I shall perform the Yātrā of the inner Sanctum for subḍueing the mass of sins.’ After taking up the vow thus, he goes to Maṇikarṇikā.
79. After the bath he will return silently and worship Maṇikarṇīkā. Then he bows to Kambala and Aśvatara and offers obeisance to Vāsukīśa.
80. Then he visits in order Parvateśa, Gaṅgākeśava, Lalitā and Jarāsandheśvara.
81. Then after seeing Somanātha, he goes to Varāha. Then bows to Brahmeśvara and Agastīśvara.
82. He should pay obeisance to Kaśyapeśa and Harikeśavana. After visiting Vaidyanātha he should visit Dhruveśa.
83-86. The following are to be visited, worshipped and bowed to: Gokarṇeśvara, Hāṭakeśvara, Kīkaseśvara in the lake where bones are cast (Asthikṣepa), Bhārabhūta, Citragupteśvara, Citraghaṇṭā, Paśupatīśvara, Pitāmaheśvara, Kalaśeśvara, Candreśa, Vīreśa, Vidyeśa, Agnīśa, Nāgeśvara, Hariścandra, Cintāmaṇivināyaka and Senāvināyaka, the remover of all obstacles.
87. Vaśiṣṭha and Vāmadeva in the form of idols should be deliberately seen in Kāśī. They are destroyers of great obstacles.
88-90. The following are then visited and bowed to: Sīmāvināyaka, Karuṇeśa, Trisandhyeśa, Viśālākṣī, Dharmeśa, Viśvabāhukā, Āśāvināyaka, Vṛddhāditya, Caturvaktreśvara Liṅga, then Brāhmīśa, Manaḥprakāmeśa, Īśāneśa, Caṇḍī and Caṇḍīśvara, Bhavānī and Saṅkara. Ḍhuṇḍhi should be worshipped. The devotee then should adore Rājarājeśa.
91-95. Lāṅgalīśa should be worshipped then. Then Nakulīśvara. After bowing to Parānneśa the devotee bows to Paradravyeśvara, Pratigraheśvara or Niṣkalaṅkeśa. After worshipping Mārkaṇḍeyeśa he should bow to Apsaraseśvara. Then Gaṅgeśa is to be worshipped; then he should take his bath in Jñānavāpī tank. Then he should bow down to Nandikeśa, Tārakeśa, Mahākāleśvara, Daṇḍapāṇi, Maheśa and Mokṣeśa. After bowing down to Vīrabhadreśvara and Avimukteśvara, the five Vināyakas, he should go to Viśvanātha. Then he will break silence and utter this Mantra.
96. “May Lord Śaṃbhu be pleased with this pilgrimage of the Antargṛha (Inner Sanctum), which has been duly performed by me, even if it be deficient or superfluous in any respect.”
97. After uttering this Mantra, the devotee rests for a short while in the Muktimaṇḍapa, He should then go home. The man is rid of his sins. He is meritorious.
98. On the day of Viṣṇu (i.e. Lunar eleventh) the pilgrimage to all the Viṣṇu Tīrthas should be assiduously performed for enhancing one’s great merit.
99. On the fifteenth day in the month of Bhādrapada (August-Sept.) the devotee should worship Kulastaṃbha. The worship thereof will remove misery and Rudrapiśāca state.