The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Pandaveshvara (Pandava-ishvara) which is chapter 86 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 eighty-sixth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 86 - Greatness of Pāṇḍaveśvara (Pāṇḍava-īśvara)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1. To the south thereof is situated a Liṅga of great lustre named Pāṇḍaveśvara. It has been installed by the five (Pāṇḍavas) in due order.
2. When the Pāṇḍavas were obliged to remain incognito they were roaming in forests. They came to Prabhāsa Kṣetra with a view to perform their holy pilgrimage.
3. O great goddess, when the Somaparvan occurred, at that time all of them installed the Liṅga on the banks of Sannihitā.
4. Making the excellent Brāhmaṇas beginning with Mārkaṇḍeya their Ṛtviks, they performed the Abhiṣeka (Ablution) with the Mantras from the Vedas and gifted bulls (one each).
5. O my beloved of excellent complexion, when the Liṅga was installed, the sages beginning with Mārkaṇḍa became pleased.
The sages said:
6. Those who will worship this Liṅga adored by Pāṇḍavas will be worthy of adoration by Devas, Dānavas and Rākṣasas.
7. There is no doubt. By our statement they will get the fruit of Aśvamedha due to their faith and worship.
8. If, after taking bath in Sannihitā Kuṇḍa any person adores Pāṇḍaveśvara during the whole of the month of Māgha, he becomes Puruṣottama himself.
9. By simply visiting him, sin gets rent into a thousand bits. He is said to be Viṣṇu himself incarnate. There is no need to think over it.