The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Sangameshvara (Sangama-ishvara) which is chapter 249 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 forty-ninth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 249 - Greatness of Saṅgameśvara (Saṅgama-īśvara)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-3. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the shrine of Lord Saṅgameśvara well-known as Golakṣa and destructive of all sins.
It is situated there itself on the western side. It bestows all desired benefits. There was formerly a sage of great austerity named Uddālaka, O great goddess of Suras. Once, formerly, he went to the confluence of Sarasvatī and Piṅgā and performed a penance. That confluence is destructive of all sins.
4. O beautiful lady, the noble soul was performing a severe penance with great devotion. At that time, a Liṅga rose in front of him.
5-7. At that very time, an unembodied voice said: “O Uddālaka of powerful arms, listen to my words:
From now onwards, I will stay here permanently. Since the excellent Liṅga rose up in the Saṅgama (confluence) its name shall be Saṅgameśvara. Those men who take their bath at the confluence well-known throughout the world and view Lord Saṅgameśvara attain the greatest goal.”
Īśvara said:
8. Then he adored the deity day and night without lassitude. When the body came to an end he went to the place where Maheśvara is present.