The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes The Greatness of Shukreshvara and Other Shrines which is chapter 25 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 twenty-fifth chapter of the Avantikshetra-mahatmya of the Avantya-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 25 - The Greatness of Śukreśvara and Other Shrines
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Sanatkumāra said:
1. By worshipping Śukreśvara with white flowers and unguents and prostrating thereafter with devotion, (a devotee) is honoured in Rudraloka.
2. By visiting Bhīmeśvara and worshipping him carefully and devoutly, O Vyāsa, a devotee does not face fears arising from battle, water, fire and nights.
3. By bathing Gargeśvara with gingelly oil and by worshipping with Bilva leaves, a man attains increase in piety.
4. The devotee should observe fast on the fourteenth lunar day. He should bathe (the Lord) with water mixed with gingelly seeds measuring a Prastha. He should then perform Homa with gingelly seeds. Thereby he shall always attain happiness.
5. By offering the gift of a thousand cows with special emotional fervour, the devotee shall be rid of the bondage of the world. He goes to Rudraloka (region of Rudra).
6. By worshipping Kāmeśvara with unguents of saffron etc. the devotee undoubtedly goes to heaven by means of an aerial chariot that can go wherever one pleases.
7. By bowing down to Cūḍāmaṇi on the ninth day in the bright half of Kārttika, a man averts the danger of ignominious birth. He becomes pious-minded.
8. The devotee, should observe fast and worship Caṇḍīśvara on the eighth lunar day in the dark half. He is not touched by grief arising from passing over Nirmālya (the remnants of adoration).
9. A man should proceed to all these meritorious and holy Tīrthas of Maheśvara. He should keep his mind pure and his soul pious. He goes to the world of Śaṃbhu which is very beautiful.