Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Kotishvara (Koti-ishvara) or Kotisha (Koti-isha) which is chapter 104 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 fourth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 104 - Greatness of Koṭīśvara (Koṭi-īśvara) or Koṭīśa (Koṭi-īśa)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
15. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the excellent Koṭīśvara shrine situated to the north thereof. It is well-known as Koṭīśa.
It destroys all sins of all creatures. It gives liberation from bondage to the Paśus (individual souls).
Formerly, O goddess, Pāśupata sages used to perform penance in the vicinity of Kapāleśvara. With bodies smeared with holy ash, they used to perform elaborate penance. They had matted hairs like coronets. They wore girdles of the Muñja grass. All of them were quiescent. They were Śivayogīs, Brāhmaṇas who had subdued their anger. They spread all over the holy spot in all directions.
O great goddess, they numbered a crore and they were eagerly devoted to the Japa of Mantras and they had installed the Liṅga very near Kapāleśa.
6. Then, with great devotion, they worshipped the Liṅga. Then Hara, the great Lord, was pleased with them and granted them salvation.
7. O my beloved, a crore (Koṭi) of sages became Siddhas there. Hence the Liṅga became famous by the name Koṭīśvara.
8. A man who devoutly worships the Anāmaya (one who dispels internal sufferings) Koṭīśvara obtains the fruit of the Japa of a crore of Mantras.
9. Gold should be gifted there to a Brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Vedas. He shall get the fruit of a crore of Homas and the merit of a perfect pilgrimage.