The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Mankishvara (Manki-ishvara) which is chapter 184 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 eighty-fourth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 184 - Greatness of Maṅkīśvara (Maṅkī-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 Maṅkīśvara which is in the vicinity of Trisaṅgama. It is destructive of all sins.
Formerly, there was a sage named Maṅkī. He was the most excellent among those who performed penance. Realizing that this was a great Kṣetra, favourite with Śaṅkara, he installed a Liṅga of Maheśvara and performed a very terrible penance for more than ten thousand years in which he subsisted only on bulbous roots, roots and fruits.
4-5. Then the delighted Lord Mahādeva granted him a boon. He chose, “If you are satisfied, do stay on in this holy spot. Reside in this Liṅga marked by (associated with) my name for ten thousands of Kalpas.” The Lord said, “Let it be so” and vanished there itself.
6-7. Ever since then, that Liṅga is famous as Maṅkīśvara. On the thirteenth or fourteenth lunar day in the month of Māgha, the deity should be worshipped with the five Upacāras. A devotee shall obtain the desired benefit. The gift of a cow should be made there by those who desire to get the benefit of a perfect pilgrimage.