Skandapurana 1.2.7

Nandikeśvara said:

Whoever worships the Lord of the Red Mountain on Sunday with red lotuses,

for him the great fortunes of a universal monarch are certainly accomplished.

Whoever worships the Lord of Aruṇādri on Wednesday with fragrant oleanders,

for him there will be a pleasant dwelling in Satyaloka.

For one who serves the Lord of Śoṇa on Thursday with white water-lilies,

there will be a long stay in Janaloka together with the perfected beings.

If one worships him on Friday with campaka and jasmine blossoms,

he will attain Tapoloka, praised by the brahmin seers.

And having worshipped Aruṇeśvara on Saturday with royal jasmines,

even a terrible sinner is never subject to the worlds of Yama.

Whoever presents an offering of milk-rice to the god

on the first lunar day, he becomes rich with wealth and grain.

Whoever with devotion offers curd-rice on the second lunar day,

he will certainly become fortunate, eminent, and a drinker of soma.

And whoever satisfies the Lord of Śoṇa with cakes on the third lunar day,

his health will remain unbroken for the whole length of his life.

Whoever presents an abundance of full jars and the like

to Aruṇeśa on the fourth lunar day, his desires will be fulfilled.

And whoever prepares an offering of mung-bean rice on the fifth lunar day

with devotion to the Lord of Śoṇa, he will have imperishable majesty.

Whoever with devotion gives jaggery-rice on the sixth lunar day to Aruṇācala-Śambhu,

his lineage will never perish.

Whoever presents sesame-rice to the Lord of Śoṇa on the seventh lunar day,

even if poor, he effortlessly dispels indebtedness.

Whoever gives royal rice on the eighth lunar day to Śoṇa-Śambhu,

kings are subdued to him even without any courtly service.

And whoever offers wheat food on the ninth lunar day to the Lord of the Red Mountain,

consumption and other diseases will never afflict him.

Whoever presents a grain-and-curd mixture to the Lord of Śoṇa on the tenth lunar day,

he becomes forever a vessel of affection for all people.

Whoever prepares offerings with flattened rice on the eleventh lunar day

for the Lord of Aruṇācala, he has nothing to fear from any quarter.

Whoever makes an offering of rice with lentil soup on the twelfth lunar day

to the Lord of Śoṇa, his wish becomes unimpeded.

Whoever presents roasted grain flour to Aruṇeśa on the thirteenth lunar day,

his unclouded state of mind arises, even unwearied.

Whoever offers various fruits to the Lord of Śoṇa

on the fourteenth lunar day, even if foolish, he becomes perfected in wisdom.

Whoever presents a jackfruit to the Lord of the Red Mountain

on the full moon day, no eye disease arises for him.

And whoever offers bulbs, roots, and the like with devotion on the new moon day and at an equinox

to the Lord of the Red Mountain, indeed his ancestors are satisfied.

A devoted person should give garments to Aruṇeśa under Aśvinī;

under Bharaṇī he should also give ornaments to Aruṇeśa.

Under Kṛttikā [he should offer] lamps, and under Rohiṇī he should offer silver;

under Mṛgaśīrṣa sandalwood, under Ārdrā yellow sandalwood;

under Punarvasu musk, under Puṣya he should offer camphor;

saffron under Āśleṣā, ice-cold water under Maghā;

betel under Pūrvaphalgunī, incense under Uttaraphalgunī;

black aloe wood under the constellation Hasta, yakṣakardama ointment under Citrā;

a host of auspicious married women under Svātī, a fan under Viśākhā;

a pearl umbrella under Anurādhā, and milch cows under Jyeṣṭhā;

under Mūla pearl necklaces, under Pūrvāṣāḍhā he should offer a crown;

and jewels under Uttarāṣāḍhā, a seat of fortune under Śravaṇa.

Gold during Dhaniṣṭhā, and garment during Śatabhiṣaj;

Enjoyments during Pūrvabhādrapadā, and horses during Uttarabhādrapadā; / 28

And during Revatī, one should offer a golden chariot to the One Born of the Crimson [Mountain].

Having performed a great worship, a man should then offer these gifts. / 29

Next, during the zodiacal signs beginning with Aries, [the Lord] at Aruṇa should be worshipped especially

With sinduvāra, kurabaka, kakubha, and pāṭalā [flowers] in order, / 1.3.2.7.30

With kuṭaja, nīpa blossoms, jīvantī, mallikā, and the like,

With lotuses, damanaka, and river-eddy lotuses. / 31

Giving a ceremonial bath with the five nectars during both eclipses,

One should do so with the five-syllable mantra with devotion to the Lord of the Crimson [Mountain]. / 32

And on both solstices, [there should be] a ceremonial bath with the five products of the cow;

One should perform the rite of bathing with cow's [milk] using the six-syllable mantra. / 33

One should perform the rite of bathing with milk using the Praṇava alone

For the Lord of Aruṇācala with devotion at the two equinoxes. / 34

In the morning it should be Rudra-tulasī, at midday kṛtamāla,

And in the afternoon mallikā is recommended for the Lord of the Crimson Mountain. / 35

And at dawn on an ardhodaya, one should bathe [him] with water from a thousand pitchers,

Reciting the Śatarudrīya for the Lord of the illustrious Aruṇācala. / 36

On Śivarātri, staying awake, with senses subdued,

Especially with three-pronged bilva leaves, lotuses, and karṇikāra flowers, / 37

And with singing, instrumental music, and dances, in accordance with the rules of the divine Āgamas,

One should worship the Great Lord on the Crimson Mountain for the sake of liberation. / 38

And in the month of Pauṣa, a wise person should perform the Fire Festival for the god

With freshly harvested grains, condiments, and other foods, while reciting the vyāhṛtis. / 39

And in the month of Vaiśākha on Viśākhā, following the Śiva Tantras,

One should perform the damanaka festival for this Lord of Aruṇācala. / 1.3.2.7.40

In Mārgaśīrṣa, having performed the morning awakening rite with Sāman hymns,

The devotee should perform a great worship of the Crimson Mountain. / 41

On Saturday pradoṣas, during Ārdrā [conjunctions], on vyatīpātas, and on the new/full moon days,

And on Mondays and Sundays, one should worship the Lord of the Crimson Mountain according to the Āgama. / 42

Also on occasions of initiation, investiture with the sacred thread, marriage, the birth of a son, and so forth,

The devotee should perform special worship of the Lord of the Crimson [Mountain]. / 43

Also under one's birth constellation, in prosperity, in calamities, and in fears,

And upon entering and leaving, the Lord of Aruṇa is to be worshipped. / 44

At the arrival of an assembly of ascetics, at the binding of the feet, upon new splendor,

And during campaigns against enemies, one should perform the worship of the Lord of Aruṇa. / 45

If one is very far away, one should remember him; if one reaches the edge, one should look upon him;

If one resides in the sacred field of Aruṇa, one should worship Śiva at the three junctions of the day. / 46

"What more [can I say], child? Speak!" — Raising his arm, it is proclaimed:

There is nothing other than the sacred field of Aruṇa sufficient for heaven and liberation. / 47

By remembering it, the mind; by hearing of it, both ears; by seeing it, both eyes;

And by praising it, the tongue: the sacred field of the Crimson [Mountain] purifies [them] completely and instantly. / 48

By embodied beings who have obtained birth in this great sacred field of Aruṇa,

Enjoyment is attained while living, and liberation when life has departed. / 49

Even for those who have cast off their bodies elsewhere, through the śrāddha rite performed here,

Even for sinful men, there will be liberation. / 1.3.2.7.50

Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Māyā, Kāśī, Kāñcī, Avantikā,

And Dvārakā: the sacred field of Aruṇa surpasses [them all], there is no doubt. / 51

To the son of Śilāda who had spoken thus, the son of Mṛkaṇḍu spoke once again:

"O one of celebrated fame! I ask once more about this māhātmya; please tell it to me." / 52

Thus ends the seventh chapter, titled "Description of Desired Rites," in the second half of the Aruṇācalamāhātmya in the first Māheśvarakhaṇḍa of the illustrious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, containing eighty-one thousand verses. / 7