The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Ketvishvra (Ketu-ishvra) which is chapter 51 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 fifty-first chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 51 - Greatness of Ketvīśvra (Ketu-īśvra)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-3. Then, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to Ketuliṅga of great lustre. It is on the north of Rāhvīśāna and the south of Maṅgalā.
It is situated not very far off, say, within a few Dhanus. This Liṅga is of great efficacy and is destructive of all sins.
The Planet named Ketu is extremely ferocious but sanctified by means of Śivasadbhāva (good feelings towards Lord Śiva). He is extremely terrible with round large eyes.
4. He resembles in colour smoke emitted by burning straws, dispels the afflictions caused by evil Planets, and O my beloved, he performed a severe penance there for a hundred years according to divine reckoning.
5. Mahādeva was pleased with him and granted him the status of a Planet and also the overlordship of eleven hundred Grahas (Planets).
6-7. At the time of the terrible rise of Ketu, especially when he is seen, and also during the horrible afflictions caused by evil Planets, one should worship the deity in accordance with the injunctions.
The devotee should adore the deity with flowers, sweet scents, incense and splendid Naivedyas of various kinds.
8. He should duly propitiate Lord Ketu, the destroyer of sins.
9. Thus Ketuliṅga granting great prosperity has been succinctly mentioned. It suppresses the afflictions caused by the Planets and destroys all sins.
10. Thus the nine Liṅgas of the Planets have been spoken to you. If a man views them all everyday, whence can he have the fear of afflictions?
11. O goddess, wretchedness never occurs in his family. No sick or miserable one is born in his family. The great Planets protect him like a son.
12. Thus, O my beloved, the fourteen shrines beginning with Vighneśvara and ending with the shrine installed by Ketu, have been described to you.
13. The greatness of the deities of the nine Planets is destructive of sins. So also is that of the five Liṅgas. By listening to it, one is rid of all sins.
14. A man devoid of merits never knows the five Mudrā Liṅgas beginning with Kapardin and ending with Caṇḍanātha.
15. No one else knows the Liṅgas of the nine Planets beginning with Sūryeśvara and ending with Ketuliṅga.
16. Thus the fourteen types of shrine setting have been described. He who attentively knows this, attains the benefit of (visiting) the holy spots.