Skandapurana 5.33

Sūta said: / There is another hermitage of Agastya there, O best of twice-born,
where the Self of all, God Maheśvara himself, resides.

On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Caitra, the sun,
coming in person, worships Śaṃkara, the lord of gods.

Therefore, whatever other person also goes there on that day and worships Śaṃkara
with devotion, he goes to the abode of the gods.

Whoever performs a śrāddha there, endowed with complete faith,
his ancestors are satisfied, just as when a pitṛmedha sacrifice is performed.

The seers said: / Having arrived at the hermitage of Agastya, why does the divine sun
circumambulate it? Tell me this in full detail.

Sūta said: / I shall relate this narrative; listen, O best of twice-born:
There is a mountain renowned as Vindhya on the surface of the earth.

On whose treetop branches the clinging rays of the sun
are perceived by innocent young siddhas below as clusters of flowers.

The dwellers on its slopes are unaware of darkness
dispelled by the radiance of jewels, even on the nights of the dark fortnight.

On whose slopes the trees shedding flowers appear splendid,
verily like clouds shedding torrents of water under the force of the wind.

Upon which various animals are seen running to and fro,
like humans driven by greed for the nourishment of wives and sons.

Where trees whose bark has been wounded by elephants’ tusks shed tears
under the guise of resin, perfuming all the quarters of the sky.

And other trees on its ridges, struck by elephants' trunks,
are thought to be weeping through the prolonged chirping of crickets.

Surrounded by cascade waters flowing here and there,
it shone like a man adorned with opulent white garments.

Formerly, a rivalry arose between it and Sumeru;
then, swooning with rage, it approached the thousand-rayed [sun] and spoke:

“Why, O Bhāskara, do you circumambulate Meru?
Why do you not circumambulate me, though I am also designated a clan mountain?”

Bhāskara said: / “We do not circumambulate that mountain out of devotion;
this is my path ordained by the One by whom this world was ordained.

Its towering peaks pervade and reach into the sky;
therefore, circumambulating it happens by necessity alone.”

Hearing this, the Vindhya mountain became especially enraged / and said: “See then my height today, O Sun!” / And forthwith it blocked the pathway of the sky by which the sun travels.

Then, seeing the path blocked, the lord of day
thought in his heart: “What shall I do now?

If I perform a circumambulation of this mountain,
there will be a disruption of time in the three worlds.

And likewise a confusion of months, seasons, and realms will occur;
all rites such as the agniṣṭoma will meet with destruction; / when the festivals of sacrifice are destroyed in the world, great distress will befall the gods.”

Having reflected thus in many ways within his mind, the hot-rayed [sun],
afraid, went in thought to Agastya, the bull among sages.

“Indeed, there is no other capable of stopping this Vindhya except him,
Agastya, the best of brahmins, born from Mitra and Varuṇa.”

Then, assuming the form of a twice-born, the hot-rayed [sun]
went to the precincts of his hermitage in the sacred field of Camatkārapura.

Then, at the conclusion of the Vaiśvadeva rite, devoted to chanting the Veda,
he spoke: “I, a guest, have arrived, O best of sages.”

Then Agastya, filled with joy, [said]: “Welcome to you, O great sage,
who have arrived at the end of the fire ritual, like a cherished desire thought upon!

Speak the truth, O best of sages, that I may grant your desire;
there is nothing that cannot be given by me when asked for at this time.”

Bhāskara said: / “I, Bhāskara, have come in the form of a brahmin, O noble sage,
considering you the only one capable of all deeds in the three worlds.

Formerly, the ocean of waters was drunk dry by you for the sake of the gods,
and likewise the Daitya Vātāpi, the tormentor of the twice-born, was devoured.

Therefore, be our refuge now, O best of sages,
since you alone are the protector of the gods and the castes here.”

Sūta said: / Hearing that, O brahmins, that sage was exceedingly delighted;
having offered the respectful water offering to the lord of day, he then said with respect:

"I am blessed, I am graced, that you have come to my home. / Therefore speak, and I shall carry out your word without fail."

Bhāskara said: / "This Vindhya mountain stands blocking our path, / out of rivalry with the foremost of mountains, Sumeru, O best of sages.

Restrain it, therefore, by various means such as conciliation and the rest; / act so that there is no passing of time, so that the course is not obstructed."

Agastya said: / "I shall restrain for you this growing clan mountain. / Therefore go to your own place, O maker of day, and be at ease."

Then Bhāskara of sharp rays, dismissed by him, / took leave of that lord of sages and went to his own place, rejoicing.

Agastya also went quickly and spoke respectfully to the Vindhya: / 'Descend to a low state at my word, swiftly, O best of mountains!

Today the thought has arisen in me to bathe in the southern tīrthas; / that depends on you, O mountain, so act as is fitting.'

Hearing his word, the Vindhya, best of mountains, / immediately assumed a low level, filled with humility.

Agastya, having reached its southern border, O twice-born, / said to it: 'You must remain standing just as you are,

until my return; let there be no doubt here. / Otherwise I will pronounce a curse, by which you will meet destruction.'

Promising 'So be it', terrified of the curse, the best of mountains / did not grow again, desiring his return.

And he [Agastya] did not turn back by that path; / even today, O leaders of brahmins, he remains residing in the southern region.

Then, bringing Lopāmudrā there, the lord of sages / summoned the thousand-rayed [sun] and spoke respectfully to him:

"At your word, O one of sharp rays, I abandoned my own hermitage; / and for your sake, I must by no means go back there again.

Therefore, at my word, O Sun, on the bright fourteenth of Madhu, / that liṅga installed by me there must certainly be worshipped by you."

Bhāskara said: / "O sage, at your word I will certainly do so without doubt. / I myself shall worship that liṅga at the end of the year.

Whatever other human being worships that liṅga on that day / shall reach my world and attain liberation."

Sūta said: / For this reason the blessed one of sharp rays / always manifests his presence there on the fourteenth of the bright half of Caitra.

All this which I was asked has been told to you, O best of the twice-born; / speak again if any doubt remains in your hearts.

Thus ends the thirty-third chapter, named 'Description of the Glory of Agastya's Hermitage,' in the glory of the Hāṭakeśvara field, in the Nāgarakhaṇḍa, the sixth [part] of the auspicious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a collection of eighty-one thousand [verses].