The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Nilarudra which is chapter 88 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-eighth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 88 - Greatness of Nīlarudra
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-2. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the second shrine of Nīlarudra situated within sixteen Dhanus to the north of Bhūteśa.
It is a great Liṅga, O great goddess, worshipped by the Gaṇas and Gandharvas. After bathing the Liṅga in accordance with injunctions, the pilgrim should worship it uttering the Mantra of Īśa.
3. By means of blue and white water lilies in abundance as well as other requisites for adoration, he should worship the deity after sanctifying his soul perfectly. After circumambulation, he should prostrate before the deity and worship (it).
4. By performing the rites thus, O goddess, he shall obtain the fruit of a Rājasūya Sacrifice. A bull should be gifted by those who wish to obtain the benefit of a perfect pilgrimage.
5. A Daitya who resembled blue collyrium and whose name was Antaka was killed formerly. The Lord caused the wives of that demon to lament and cry. Hence he is remembered as Nīlarudra.
6. The sin-destroying greatness of that deity has been succinctly spoken. It should be attained by those endowed with perfect faith. The story of the deity should be listened to by those who are eager to visit it.