The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Candisha which is chapter 42 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 forty-second chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 42 - Caṇḍīśa
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1. Then a pilgrim should go over to the excellent Lord Caṇḍīśa, O great goddess. It is situated within a distance of seven Dhanus to the north-east of Someśa.
2. It was installed by Caṇḍī formerly not far from the abode of Daṇḍapāṇi. It was then adored by Caṇḍa.
3. After performing a very difficult penance, O goddess of Devas, Caṇḍa, a Gaṇa of mine, propitiated it. Therefore, the Liṅga became well-known all over the earth as Caṇḍeśvara.
4. The pilgrim should at the outset bathe the Liṅga with Payas (milk, water), then with curds mixed with ghee, then with honey and sugarcane juice. He should smear it with Kuṃkuma (saffron).
5. Then he should apply the liquefied musk mixed with camphor and Uśīra (Khus). Sweet-scented sandal-paste is then applied. The pilgrim should then adore it with flowers.
6. O goddess, incense and agallocham should be fumigated before the Lord. Thereafter, garments are offered during the worship in accordance with one’s wealth.
7. The “best cooked rice”[1] (sweet rice pudding) is offered as Naivedya along with a lamp. Thereafter, the pilgrim should give monetary gifts to Brāhmaṇas within his capacity.
8. O beautiful lady, the pilgrim should face the southern quarter. Whatever is offered then to Caṇḍīśa, shall become everlasting in its benefit.
9. If the pilgrim performs Śrāddha on the right side of Caṇḍīśa, O beautiful lady, the Pitṛs become satisfied for the period of a Kalpa.
10. In the course of the Uttarāyaṇa (northern transit of the Sun) the pilgrim should perform the rite of Ghṛtakaṃbala (woollike thick application of ghee over the idol or Liṅga). He will never again take up the terrible worldly birth.
11. Thus, the pilgrim performs the Yātrā (pilgrimage) of the Trident-bearing Lord. Thereby the creature becomes rid of various sins such as those caused by overstepping the remnants of the adoration of Śiva, eating unwittingly the prohibited food etc. All the entanglaments due to earlier Karmas perish (get dissolved).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Paramānna - Rice boiled in milk and mixed with sugar.