The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes The Greatness of Naga Tirtha which is chapter 163 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 one hundred sixty-third chapter of the Reva-khanda of the Avantya-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 163 - The Greatness of Nāga Tīrtha
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:
1-4. Thereafter, O great king, a person should go to the excellent Nāga Tīrtha.
On the fifth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Āśvina one should remain pure and observe regulations. Then he has to keep awake for the whole of the night while offering sweet scents, incense and food.
Early next morning, he should take his holy bath and duly perform Śrāddha. He will be liberated from all sins. No hesitation need be felt in this respect.
O king, one who casts his life off there in the Tīrtha, shall have a departure from which there is no return. So said Śiva himself.