The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Merit of Residing near Raktashringa which is chapter 16 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 sixteenth chapter of the Tirtha-mahatmya of the Nagara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 16 - Merit of Residing near Raktaśṛṅga
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Sūta said:
1-9a. Hence with all endeavour, the vicinity of Raktaśṛṅga should be resorted to by all sensible persons after eschewing all other rites.
Of what avail is Dāna? Of what use are rituals? Of what purpose are Yajñas? Of what avail are Vratas (religious observances) even? One should devoutly resort to that holy spot of (i.e. associated with) Hāṭakeśvara.
As compared to that holy spot, Yajñas beginning with Agniṣṭoma performed with the full complement of all monetary gifts, do not deserve even one-sixteenth fraction thereof. (Expiations like) Cāndrāyaṇa, Kṛcchra and Sāntapana do not deserve even one-sixteenth part of that holy spot.
Tīrthas beginning with Prabhāsa as well as rivers beginning with Gaṅgā do not deserve even one-sixteenth fraction of that holy spot.
All types of gifts (such as) of plots of land, all the righteous activities of compassion etc., do not deserve even one-sixteenth part of that holy spot.
Formerly many saintly kings had attained Siddhi here. Animals, birds, serpents, lions, tigers, deer etc., that died there in due course of time had also attained heavenly abode.
A person devoid of Vratas, one engaged in agricultural activities, who lives there and dies shall go to heaven, O Brāhmaṇas.
9b-11. What is the use of talking again and again, O excellent Brāhmaṇas? Let the great secret connected with that holy spot be heard. (Other holy spots and Tīrthas sanctify men when they stay there. But the holy spot of Hāṭakeśvara sanctifies by its mere thought. What to say, O Brāhmaṇas, of visiting and touching (i.e. staying here) in particular!