Skandapurana 1.4.50: adhyāyaḥ 52

Arjuna said:

"How did Koṭitīrtha arise, or by whom was it created, O sage?

Or why is the fruit of ten million sacred fords declared to be here, O sage?" 1

Nārada said:

"When the place was established by me, having propitiated the Lord,

Brahmā the Grandfather was brought directly from the world of Brahmā. 2

Then, at midday, for the purpose of bathing, the blessed Creator

remembered ten million sacred fords, and when remembered, they came here: 3

three million from heaven, seven [million] from the surface of the earth,

and two million from Pātāla, when remembered, arrived. 4

According to this proportion, O best of the Kurus,

the liṅgas also came, so that the Grandfather might perform their worship. 5

Then, having performed the consecration and worshipped the liṅgas, the lotus-born [Brahmā],

having accomplished his midday duties, granted me a boon with love. 6

Then a lake was indeed created here with his mind by the Lord.

Having been worshipped by the sacred fords, the blessed Prajāpati [was addressed by them]: 7

'What shall we do, O blessed Creator? Give us your command, O Lord!'

Hearing their words, Brahmā Prajāpati said: 8

'All the sacred fords are to abide in this lake, and also here,

in this one liṅga, by all liṅgas, because of my worship. 9

By bathing and worship, the fruit of ten million sacred fords and liṅgas

and of giving [shall be obtained] here, if my word is true. 1.2.52.10

Whoever performs a śrāddha here and gives rice-balls according to the rule,

for his ancestors there arises inexhaustible satisfaction, without a doubt. 11

Having bathed, whoever worships the god Koṭīśvara with single-minded devotion,

for him the fruit of worshipping ten million liṅgas clearly arises. 12

Whatever sacred fords there are in the three worlds, and likewise rivers such as the Gaṅgā,

he obtains their fruit by plunging into Koṭitīrtha.' 13

Having granted this boon, the Lord Brahmā went to the world of Brahmā;

and from then on Koṭitīrtha became renowned. 14

Formerly, O son of Pṛthā, on its bank, by the best of gods headed by Brahmā,

having performed many kinds of sacrifices, they attained supreme perfection. // 15

Austerity was practiced formerly, O sinless one, by excellent sages headed by Vasiṣṭha;

other ascetics obtained the desires cherished in their minds. // 16

At this sacred ford formerly, O son of Pṛthā, austerity was performed by Atri.

To the south of Koṭitīrtha, an excellent liṅga was installed, // 17

known indeed as Atrīśvara, the supreme remover of great sins.

And having installed that liṅga, he made a lake in front of it. // 18

Whatever mortal bathes there and performs a śrāddha with diligence,

having thoroughly worshipped Atrīśvara, he will dwell for a long time in Rudraloka. // 19

By the sage Bharadvāja, at the lake in Koṭitīrtha,

austerity was practiced, O mighty-armed one, and sacrifices were indeed performed. // 1.2.52.20

The very charming liṅga named Bharadvājeśvara was installed [by him];

having made a delightful lake there, he attained supreme joy. // 21

Having bathed there, a man should perform a śrāddha according to rule with devotion;

having worshipped Bharadvājeśvara, he is glorified in Śivaloka. // 22

And then at this Koṭitīrtha, the venerable seer Gautama

practiced terrible austerity with the desire of reunion with Ahalyā. // 23

The wise one attained that desire and reached supreme joy,

[namely] reunion with Ahalyā, through the power of this sacred ford. // 24

In this sacred field, the great liṅga known as Gautameśvara

was installed by the venerable one on the bank of the Ahalyā lake. // 25

Arjuna said:

"When, O holy one, was the great lake dug by Ahalyā?

Tell me all that—the origin of the Ahalyā lake." // 26

Nārada said:

"Ahalyā met with a curse, they say, from Gautama, O son of Phalguna,

formerly, upon her union with Indra, and experienced extreme sorrow. // 27

Afflicted with sorrow, that sage then performed austerity at Koṭitīrtha;

by means of that austerity, O son of Pṛthā, he was indeed reunited with Ahalyā. // 28

Then, exceedingly delighted, the virtuous woman in this sacred field

made a very great, holy lake filled with the waters of sacred fords. // 29

One should perform a ritual ablution and offering of balls of food in the Ahalyā lake;

and having worshipped Gautameśa, he goes to Brahmaloka. // 1.2.52.30

At Koṭitīrtha, O best of men, numerous spotless sages,

having performed very terrible austerity, attained supreme perfection. // 31

Formerly by many kings, austerity, gifting, and likewise sacrifices

were duly performed at this sacred ford; they reached supreme perfection. // 32

And whoever gratifies even a single twice-born on its bank with savory food,

by him, aided by faith, ten million are gratified. // 33

On its bank, O son of Pṛthā, whatever man [gives] various gems

and cows, land, sesame seeds, grains, and various garments, // 34

[and] gives them with supreme faith to twice-borns, O son of Pṛthā,

the religious merit is multiplied a billionfold, through the power of Koṭitīrtha. // 35ab

Having promised [a gift] to twice-borns at Koṭitīrtha, if one does not give it, // 35cd

having caused one hundred and one generations to fall into hell,

he afterwards causes himself to fall into the terrible, great Raurava [hell]. // 36

When the month of Māgha has arrived, in the morning at pure [dawn],

whoever bathes while the sun is in Capricorn, hear from me his merit: // 37

Whatever merit is in all sacred fords, whatever fruit in all sacrifices,

and whatever [merit is gained] by all gifts and vows—day after day at Koṭitīrtha, // 38

a mortal obtains that merit; no hesitation should be made in this regard. // 39ab

When the sun has entered Virgo, whatever man performs a śrāddha, // 39cd

his ancestors are pleased [by it], not by hundreds of Gayā śrāddhas. // 40ab

When the month of Kārtika has arrived, if he performs ritual ablution and the like, // 1.2.52.40cd

all that has inexhaustible fruit, just as the word of Brahmā [declares]. // 41ab

Having offered just one sacrifice here, one obtains the fruit of ten million sacrifices; // 41cd

having given away a maiden according to the Brāhma rite, the fruit is multiplied ten million times, // 42ab

since every gift at Koṭitīrtha becomes multiplied ten million times. // 42cd

One should cast off one's life breaths at Koṭitīrtha, keeping Mādhava in one's heart.

His destination, O son of Pṛthā, is long in heaven, undecaying and eternal.

Whoever abandons the body at Koṭitīrtha, the best of sacred fords,

To him the hosts of gods, headed by Brahmā, offer worship.

Whosoever's body undergoes cremation on its bank,

Or whose bones are cast at the confluence of the Mahī and the ocean,

Even the Lord of Speech is unable to describe the fruit of that, O son of Pṛthā.

Knowing this supreme [truth], O son of Pṛthā, whoever frequents Koṭitīrtha,

His daily fruit is that of [giving] a thousand tawny cows.

Therefore, in heaven, on earth, and in Pātāla, this is exceedingly difficult to attain.

Thus ends the fifty-second chapter, entitled 'Description of the Māhātmya of Koṭitīrtha,' in the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa of the first section, the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.