The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes The Greatness of Kotishvara (koti-ishvara-tirtha) which is chapter 96 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-sixth chapter of the Reva-khanda of the Avantya-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 96 - The Greatness of Koṭīśvara (koṭi-īśvara-tīrtha)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:
1-6. Thereafter, O great king, one should go to the great Koṭīśvara Tīrtha where, O descendant of Kuru, a crore of sages came there for the sake of the welfare of Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana.
The eminent sages took counsel with all the Brāhmaṇas who recited auspicious Vedic passages. Śaṅkara, the cause of the destruction of bondage, was installed there. The Lord causes severance from the worldly existence (Saṃsāra) and destroys the distress of all living beings.
It is called Koṭīśvara on the earth, O prince. One who bathes the Lord devoutly, on a full-moon day, especially of the month of Śrāvaṇa, O Yudhiṣṭhira, after offering libations of water and balls of rice to the manes in accordance with the injunctions will give everlasting satisfaction to the Pitṛs until the annihilation of all living beings.
This is the greatest secret of the Pitṛs that have resorted to the banks of Revā. It accords salvation to all creatures. It has been created by the excellent sages.