The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Anileshvara (Anila-ishvara) which is chapter 109 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 ninth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 109 - Greatness of Anileśvara (Anila-īśvara)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-3. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the excellent shrine of Anileśvara. O my beloved, it is situated within a distance of three Dhanus to the north-east thereof (i.e. of Pratyūṣeśvara).
The Liṅga is highly powerful. By merely viewing, it destroys sins. The fifth among Vasus who is known as Anila (Wind god) propitiated Mahādeva and made him manifest to him. Equipped with perfect faith, he installed the Liṅga.
4. Thus, by the power of Īśa, his son became very strong. He became well-known as Manojava (having speed of the mind) and his movement could not be comprehended fully.
5. By visiting him, a man ceases to be afflicted with sickness. He will never again be sick. If he is viewed, neither a blind one, nor a deaf one, neither a dumb person nor a sickly and impoverished one is born in the family.
6. He who offers a single flower on the Liṅga becomes richly endowed with happiness and good fortune. He will always be handsome.
7. Thus, O goddess, the greatness that destroys sins, has been narrated. By listening to this and approving this with emotional fervour, one becomes rich by realizing all his desires.