The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Shankhavarta Tirtha which is chapter 335 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 three hundred thirty-fifth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 335 - Greatness of Śaṅkhāvarta Tīrtha
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1. Thence one should go to the West to the auspicious banks of Nyaṅkumatī. There, situated to its southern direction is that highly glorious Tīrtha.
2. That Tīrtha is famous by the name Śaṅkhāvarta. There is a natural rock, which is red within and has beautiful figures on it.
3. When it (the rock) is cut (say, with a chisel) the beautiful red colour is seen therein even today. It is a sacred place special to Viṣṇu as the demon Śaṅkha was killed at this spot formerly.
4. The sacred Tīrtha Śaṅkhodaka was created by powerful Viṣṇu after killing the demon Śaṅkha who stole away the Vedas. Thence it (the Tīrtha) is seen to have the shape of a conch.
5. O goddess, after taking a bath therein, a man is absolved of the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter. And the status of Brāhmaṇa-hood for seven births is obtained even in the case of a Śūdra.
6. At first, by going there (to Śaṅkhodaka) one should proceed to Rudra-Gayā. Thereafter, a cow should be gifted there by persons desirous of the benefit of perfect performance of the pilgrimage.