The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes The Greatness of Gautameshvara (gautama-ishvara-tirtha) which is chapter 179 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 seventy-ninth chapter of the Reva-khanda of the Avantya-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 179 - The Greatness of Gautameśvara (gautama-īśvara-tīrtha)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:
1-8. Thereafter, O great king, one should go to the excellent Gautameśvara Tīrtha that destroys all sins and is well-known in all the three worlds.
O Yudhiṣṭhira, penance was performed there at that Tīrtha by Gautama for a period of one thousand divine years. Thereafter Maheśvara was pleased.
Gautama bowed down his head and installed Parameśvara. Since Īśa was installed by Gautama, the deity is called Gautameśvara.
By propitiating Parameśvara there, excellent Siddhi has been achieved by Devas, Gandharvas, sages, Pitṛs and Devatās.
One who takes his holy bath there in that Tīrtha and worships the Pitṛs and Devatās and adores the great Īśāna is liberated from all sins.
Deluded by the Māyā of Viṣṇu many do not know that the trident-bearing Lord Maheśvara is present there.
O Lord of men, one who remains celibate, takes his holy bath there in the Tīrtha and adores Mahādeva shall obtain the benefit of an Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice).
One who remains celibate and offers libation to the Pitṛs and Devatās and adores the great Īśāna is absolved of all sins.
9-16. The Dāna offered with devotion to Brāhmaṇas in that Tīrtha shall be of everlasting benefit. No doubt need be entertained in this respect.
O king, in the month of Aśvayuja on the fourteenth day in the dark half, a person should take his holy bath duly and offer a hundred lights, after worshipping Mahādeva with sweet scents, flowers etc. The man is liberated form all sins. After death he goes to Śiva’s City.
On the eighth and fourteenth lunar days, particularly on the full-moon day in the month of Kārttika a devotee should observe fast, remain pure and bathe Śiva with ghee, Pañcagavya, honey, curd or cold water. That man obtains the benefit of all Yajñas.
Afterwards he should worship (Siva) with devotion. He shall get the excellent benefit.
A man who worships Gautameśvara, with Kuśa, Apāmārga, Kadaṃba and Droṇa, Mallikā and Karavīra of red, yellow, white and black flowers obtains all desires.
One who worships with other flowers, according to their availability, regularly for six months shall obtain all desires. On death he shall go to Śiva’s City.