The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Kumareshvara (Kumara-ishvara) which is chapter 215 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 two hundred fifteenth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 215 - Greatness of Kumāreśvara (Kumāra-īśvara)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-3. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the excellent shrine Kumāreśvara, which is not very far from Mārkaṇḍeśvara, to the south, O goddess. It is stationed within a distance of twenty Dhanus. O beautiful lady, it has been installed by Svāmin (Skanda). Kārttikeya had installed it. He performed a severe penance for the purpose of destroying the sins arising from abducting wives of other men. He installed the Liṅga there and was relieved of the sins thereby. Out of dejection and regret, he eschewed youth and assumed boyhood once again.
4-7. Formerly, Sumālin killed his Pitṛs (ancestors). Thereafter, he propitiated the deity, O goddess, and he too was relieved of the sins due to the slaughter of the Pitṛs.
This deity named Kumāreśvara was adored by Suras and Asuras.
O beautiful lady, in front of the shrine there is a well of Kumāra.
He who worships the Trident-bearing Lord, earlier worshipped by Svāmin, after taking his bath there (in the well), shall be freed from sins and shall go to the great Svāmipura.
He who offers a golden cock to the twice-born with the Svāmin in view, shall obtain the benefit of the pilgrimage.