The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Pushkaravartaka (Pushkara-avartaka) which is chapter 134 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 thirty-fourth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 134 - Greatness of Puṣkarāvartakā (Puṣkara-āvartakā)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-4. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to River Puṣkarāvartakā situated not far from Brahmakuṇḍa, on the northern side.
Formerly, as the Yajña of the noble-souled Soma was going on, Brahmā had come to Prabhāsa Kṣetra along with groups of Suras.
He had been invited by Ṛkṣarāja (the Moon, Soma) for the purpose of installing Somanātha as promised earlier by Brahmā, the creator of the worlds: “As long as I continue to stay in the mortal world for any reason, obeisance should be offered thrice a day (during the periods of junction) in Tripuṣkara.”
5. In the meantime, the auspicious hour had come. The period was recommended as the auspicious hour by the Brāhmaṇas thinking about deities.
6. On coming to know that Pitāmaha was about to proceed ahead towards Puṣkara for the purpose of Sandhyā (prayer at the prescribed hours of junction) Rātrinātha (the Lord of night namely Soma, Moon) said these words:
7. “This period alone is reckoned as the auspicious hour by persons conversant with astrology. May the arrangement be so made as to avoid lapse of the auspicious time.”
8. Having come to know that the time was propitious, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, concentrated his mind and thought of the Puṣkaras mentally.
9. O auspicious and splendid lady of excellent complexion, on being remembered by Brahmā, those (Puṣkaras) manifested themselves immediately on the refulgent banks of the river.
10. There arose whirlpools (in the river) [i.e., āvarta, also āvartaka] of three sizes, large, medium and small. Then, Brahmā the grandfather of the worlds, gave her (the river) a name.
11-13. “With my favour, the splendid river will become well-known from today by the name Puṣkarāvartakā. A man who takes his holy bath here and offers libation to the Pitṛs with devotion, will attain what is desired and the merit befitting the Tripuṣkara. If an excellent man offers libation there on the third lunar day in the bright half of the month of Śrāvaṇa, the satisfaction (of the Pitṛs) shall last for ten thousand Kalpas.”