Skandapurana 2.2.45

The sages said:

O sage, this sacred observance, the Mūrtipañjara, has been heard,

which generates inner joy and is exceedingly great in its majesty.

The twelve holy festivals that have been described, dear to the Lord—

tell us of the two remaining of them, O great sage!

Jaimini said:

I shall describe the vernal festival, the Damanabhañjikā,

by performing or beholding which Puruṣottama is pleased.

The herb named damanaka, which was mentioned of old, O brahmins—

on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Caitra, one should gather it by the roots.

In the middle of it, one should make a very auspicious maṇḍala named padma.

Inside it, one should install the worshipped substitute image of the deity,

accompanied by Śrī and Satyabhāmā, and worship them according to the rules.

At midnight, indeed, one should have this rite of the God of gods performed.

Formerly, at midnight as well, the Lord crushed the asura Damana;

having crushed him, he experienced supreme delight, and that herb arose from his body.

On that very thirteenth day, one should meditate upon the herb as the demon.

Having folded his hands in reverence, he should utter this speech:

'You slew the demon Damana of old, the thorn of the three worlds;

he, transformed in this manner, stands before you.

Whatever delight you had at his origin then, O Mādhava,

let there be the very same delight now in the crushing of Damana.'

Having said this, one should place the herb in one hand of the deity.

Then one should pass the remainder of the night with dance, song, and the like.

Then, when the sun has risen, taking the deity preceded by the herb,

one should convey him near the Lord of the Universe, O best of the twice-born.

Then, one should worship Jagannātha with offerings as before.

Having slain Hiraṇyakaśipu, [Viṣṇu wore] the garland of entrails produced from his body—

Having placed [it] on your neck, just as you were pleased after slaying Hiraṇyakaśipu / and [putting on] the garland of entrails born of his body, so this damana grass

has been offered by me upon your limbs, O Lord, for your pleasure.'

Having recited this, one should place the auspicious fragrant grass upon Hari's head.

Then, beholding with joy Hari's lotus-face that brings delight,

freed from worldly sorrow, one attains unsurpassed happiness.

Taking a sprig of it on one's head as it falls from Viṣṇu's head,

freed from all sins, one shall dwell firmly in the city of Viṣṇu.

Thus ends the forty-fifth chapter, entitled 'Description of the Rite of Breaking the Damana Plant', in the Puruṣottamakṣetra-māhātmya of the second [part], the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses.