The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Baladitya which is chapter 288 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 eighty-eighth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 288 - Greatness of Bālāditya
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-5. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the shrine well-known as Bālāditya. It is to the east of Agastya Sthāna at a distance only of two Gavyūtis (Gavyuti = 3 Kms.).
The holy spot named Sapāṭikā is situated to the south thereof at a distance of a Gavyūti, O goddess of Devas. It is well-known as Bālārka (Bālāditya).
It was there that Vidyā (learning) was propitiated by the intelligent Viśvāmitra after installing three Liṅgas and establishing Ravi (Sun-god).
He practised the lores and achieved Siddhi from the Sun-god. Therefore, the Lord became famous as Bālāditya.
By viewing that deity Bhāskara (Sun-god), the thief (remover) of sins, a man can avoid incurring poverty throughout his life.