Chapter 111 - The Greatness of Skanda Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Verses 3-21 describe the story of the birth of Skanda. If differs from a similar story in Mahābhārata and other Purāṇas on the following points: (i). Śiva invites Smara (god of Love) to inspire him sexually. (ii). Śiva when disturbed in his sexual intercourse advises Agni that if he (Agni) finds his (Śiva’s) semen unbearable, he should deposit it in Gaṅgā. It is after giving this advice that he gives Agni an oral dose of his semen. (iii). Skanda’s penance on the bank of Narmadā to please his parents and creating a Tīrtha after his name on the bank of Narmadā.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-6. There is an extremely splendid Tīrtha on the southern bank of Narmadā. It was formerly created by Skanda after performing a very severe penance.

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

O excellent Brāhmaṇa, do recount truthfully the entire story of Skanda beginning with his birth as well as the details of the procedure of the pilgrimage to the Tīrtha.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

Formerly penance was performed by the Lord of Devas, O Yudhiṣṭhira, but on being requested by all the Suras, Goddess Umā was married by him.

They said, “O excellent one among Suras, Devas have no commander-in-chief. All the Devas including Vāsava are being carried away by the terrible Dānavas.

Just as night without the Moon and day without the Sun, so also army without a leader does not shine even for a short while.

After realizing this, O Mahādeva having great compassion, may a commander of the army bound to be well known in all the three worlds be granted to us.”

7-15. On hearing these splendid words of the Devas, Parameśvara who was enamoured of Goddess Umā mentally recollected Smara (god of Love).

With all his limbs intensely excited by him (Smara), the preceptor of the universe assumed a loving form and made love to Rudrāṇī for a period of a hundred divine years.

After coming to know that Hara was engaged in a long-drawn coition, Devarāja Indra had consultation with other Devas and despatched Jātavedas (Fire-god).

He went and saw Mahādeva engrossed in the greatest bliss. On being noticed thus suddenly, the Lord got up exclaiming “Hā-Hā”.

Infuriated on that account, the great goddess uttered imprecatory words even as she trembled much, O great king. Listen, I shall tell you what she uttered.

“I was requested earnestly by all the Suras for producing a son, but by sending Jātavedas my experience of sexual bliss has been spoiled and rendered ineffective. Hence all the Suras will undoubtedly be sonless.”

Thereupon Vahni (Fire) was told by Hara, “Take up our seed. It behoves you to do what usually happens in the worlds. O excellent one among Suras, it should be possible for you to take up and bear our fiery refulgence for the purpose of doing the task of the Devas. In all the three worlds, there is no one else competent enough to do so.”

Agni said:

O Lord Supreme, what power do I have for carrying your fiery refulgence? It will reduce to ash all the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile beings.

Īśvara said:

16-26. If there is any pain caused by our seed deposited in your belly, cast off that fiery refulgence in the waters of Gaṅgā, O Hutāśana (Fire).

After saying this Mahādeva deposited into the mouth of Havyavāha (Fire-god) his excellent, never-failing seed. Then he vanished.

When the Lord had vanished, Hutāśana experienced burning sensation. He deposited the seed into the waters of Gaṅgā and went to his own abode.

Unable to bear that fiery refulgence, Gaṅgā, the most excellent one among rivers, deposited it among the Śara reeds and went on her way.

On seeing the child born there, all the Devas including Vāsava sent the Kṛttikās to feed him with breast milk.

On seeing all of them arrived, the highly intelligent god born of the womb of Gaṅgā, became six-faced and drank the milk of the breasts through his six mouths, as he was so eager to drink.

The Lotus-born Lord performed all the consecratory rites beginning with the post-natal rite as enjoined in the Vedas, in accordance with the injunctions.

He was named Ṣaṇmukha^[1] because he had six faces, Kārttikeya because he was nursed by the Kṛttikās, Kumāra because he was still a child. He was also called Gaṅgāgarbha and Agnija.

Thus without formal study he became well-versed in the Vedas and many scriptures. He performed a severe penance.

Then he travelled through divine forests, rivers and all the Tīrthas of the earth as well as oceans, O descendant of Bharata. Ultimately in due course, he reached the banks of Narmadā. On the southern bank of Narmadā, he performed a severe penance.

27-35. Day and night he muttered ritualistically passages from Ṛk, Yujus and Sāman. He meditated upon Mahādeva with great purity. He became so emaciated that all his veins became visible.

When the period of a thousand years was completed Lord Maheśvara came there along with Umā and spoke these words:

Īśvara said:

I am the bestower of boons on you. O dear child, Gaurī is your mother and I am your father. Choose your boon whatever is desired by you, even if it be the rarest thing in all the three worlds.

Ṣaṇmukha said:

O Mahādeva, O Śaṅkara, if you with Umā are pleased with me, O my parents, I choose this boon. In my opinion I don’t have any other goal (except you).

On hearing these splendid words that came out of the mouth of his son, the Lord said, “Let it be so” and embraced him with great affection.

Sniffing at his head along with Umā, Śaṅkara said:

Īśvara said:

You will be immutable and everlasting commander-in-chief. A peacock of divine form is being given to you as vehicle. It will hold the Śakti in the battle. Be victorious over Suras and Asuras.

After saying this, the noble soul went to the excellent Kailāsa mountain.

When the Lord vanished, the Peacock-vehicled One installed Mahādeva (Liṅga) and went to the presence of the Suras.

36-44. Ever since then that Tīrtha became well-known as Skandatīrtha. It is the rarest meritorious Tīrtha unto the men of the earth. It is destructive of all sins.

O king, one who devoutly takes his holy bath in the Tīrtha there and adores Śiva with sweet-smelling garlands and Abhiṣeka (ritualistic bathing) shall obtain the benefit of a Yajña.

Listen to the meritorious benefit obtained by one who takes his holy bath in Skanda Tīrtha and worships Pitṛs and Devatās with water mixed with gingelly seeds.

By means of a single ball of rice offered in accordance with the injunctions, O descendant of Bharata, the Pitṛs become pleased with him for twelve years. There is no doubt about this.

O great king, whether it is splendid or otherwise, everything offered at the Tīrtha there becomes everlasting in this as well as the other world.

Whoever casts his life there in the Tīrtha in accordance with the scriptural injunctions goes to the world of Śiva. After staying there for a Kalpa duly honoured by Devas and Gandharvas, he is reborn in Bhāratavarṣa in a pure family. He will be conversant with the principles of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas. He will be devoid of all ailments. Accompanied by sons and grandsons he will live for a hundred years.

Thus, O king, the origin of Skanda Tīrtha has been recounted to you. It is conducive to wealth, fame and longevity. It is excellent. It eradicates all miseries and sins. It is meritorious as told by the Lord himself.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Etymologies of the different names of Skanda.