The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes Greatness of Yameshvara (Yama-ishvara) which is chapter 146 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 forty-sixth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 146 - Greatness of Yameśvara (Yama-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-4. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the shrine of the great Lord Yameśvara installed by Dharmarāja (the Lord of Death). It is situated to the north thereof (i. e. Gajakuṃbhodara).

O lady of excellent complexion, when Dharmarāja was cursed by Chāyā, his foot fell down and he became miserable.

Then the Lord (Dharma) of great penance performed great penance in the holy place of Prābhāsika. There he installed the Liṅga of the Trident-bearing Lord.

Mahādeva was pleased with him and became manifest to him and said, “O Dharma, welfare unto you. Choose a boon desired by you.”

5-7. Then Dharmarāja said, “Thanks to your favour, O Lord of Devas, may the foot of mine that has fallen down, grow again. O most excellent one among Suras, this Liṅga of yours has been installed by me. If the creatures on the earth visit this with great devotion, let them have freedom from sins with your favour.”

8. “It will happen thus.” Saying this Hara vanished. Yama regained his foot and went back to heaven.

9. If that most excellent one among Suras is visited, even men who perpetrate evil actions need not be afraid of the danger arising from Yama’s world.

10. On the day of Bhrātṛdvitīyā (the second lunar day after Dīpāvalī) a devotee should take his holy bath in the waters of Puṣkariṇī, approach Yameśvara and view Yameśa.

11. With Yamadeva in view, the devotee should gift a vessel of gingelly seeds, a lamp, cows, gold, and the like. He is redeemed from all sins.

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