The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Vatikeshvara (Vatika-ishvara) which is chapter 148 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 forty-eighth chapter of the Tirtha-mahatmya of the Nagara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 148 - Greatness of Vaṭikeśvara (Vaṭika-īśvara)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Sūta said:
1-2. On realizing that her son had no desire for householder’s life, Piṅgalā (i.e.Vaṭikā) became miserable and spoke to Vyāsa thus: “O excellent Brāhmaṇa, I will perform a penance for the sake of a son. Do grant me permission so that I can propitiate Maheśvara. Thereby a son causing the family to flourish shall be born of me.”
3. After deciding thus and getting the permission of the sage the chaste lady reached this holy spot and performed penance.
4. She installed Lord Śaṅkara and made a large tank of pure water. It was destructive of sins through bath.
5. Then Lord Tripurāntaka became pleased with her. With a delighted heart he spoke to her: “I am the bestower of boons.”
Śrī Mahādeva said:
6. O fair lady, I am pleased with you. O lady of excellent Vratas, choose your boon whatever may be cherished in the heart. There is nothing which cannot be given.
Vaṭikā said:
7. O excellent one among Suras, give me a son who will make the family flourish, who will always delight my mind, is well-behaved and endowed with humility.
Śrī Mahādeva said:
8. O splendid lady, O highly esteemed one, there is no doubt about it that a son will be born to you as requested. In fact, he will be better qualified.
9-11. Any other woman who with great concentration takes her bath in this tank on the fifth lunar day in the bright half for a year and also worships this Liṅga installed by you today, will attain a good son by offering an excellent fruit. If one who suffers due to ill-luck takes her bath on the third lunar day in this tank and afterwards worships my Liṅga, she will be blessed with conjugal felicity by the end of the year.
12-14. A man who bathes here and worships me shall obtain his desires if he has desires, or salvation if he has no desire.
After saying thus Mahādeva vanished. She also conceived a son from Vyāsa. He was well known as Kapīñjala as was said by the Trident-bearing Lord of Devas earlier. By him Goddess Kelīśvarī was installed here. On being propitiated she bestows all Siddhis in the world.