Skandapurana 1.2.2
English (machine translation) 1.2.2
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1.2.2.1
Nandikeśvara said:
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O sage, leader among the devotees of Maheśvara, there is indeed a place asked about by you,
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for the welfare of all beings, moving and unmoving!
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For God has ordained the birth of embodied beings
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in various wombs in accordance with their respective karmas.
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You have desired to hear [this] entirely for their great benefit;
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otherwise, there would be no cessation of transmigration even in hundreds of millions of kalpas.
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Attained again and again through trifling actions and limited knowledge,
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birth and death never cease, like the motion of a waterwheel.
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How indeed, without pure knowledge, could an embodied soul be freed
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from entering the dwelling of the womb, so as to attain rest?
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Regions were previously spoken of by me in passing,
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along with the distinctions of seers therein, and the dwelling of [Śiva] who wears the skin garment:
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some on the banks of the Gaṅgā, some on the shore of the Sarasvatī,
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others on the two banks of the Kālindī, some on the bank of the Śoṇa;
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others on the bank of the Narmadā, others on the shore of the Godāvarī,
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some on the banks of the Gomatī, others on the shore of the Haimavatī;
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another beside the ocean, others on the islands of oceans,
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some at the mouths of rivers, and some at confluences;
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some on the bank of the Kṛṣṇaveṇī, others near the Tuṅgabhadrā;
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a few along the Upaveṇī, others near the Śaktyāpagā;
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others on the bank of the Kāverī, some on the shore of the Vegavatī;
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and others on the Tāmraparṇī, a few on the shore of the Muralā;
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some on the bank of the Airāvatī, and others on the Yātukāṅkṣikā;
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a few on the banks of the Kanyā, a few on the bank of the Kumārī, others near the Tamasā and Varuṇā;
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others in the vicinity of the Mandākinī, still others on the bank of the Śiprā, others along the reaches of the Sarayū;
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others in the vicinity of the Vipāśā, others on the bank of the Śatadru;
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others near the Carmaṇvatī, some on the bank of the Bhīmarathī;
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some near Lake Bindu, others on the bank of Lake Pampā;
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some also near the Bhairavī, a few on the bank of the Kauśikī;
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others on the bank of the Mālinī, others on the bank of the Gandhavatī;
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a few near Mānasa, some on the shore of Acchoda;
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another at Lake Indradyumna, some at Maṇikarṇikā;
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others on the bank of the Varadā, some others on the Tāpī;
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near the Pātālagaṅgā, and others near the Śarāvatī;
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some on the two banks of the Lohityā, a few on the shore of the Kālamā;
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others near the Vitastā, and others near the Candrabhāgā;
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some near the Suralā, others on the two banks of the Payoṣṇī;
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some on the bank of the Madhumatī, and some along the Pinākinī.
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The sacred field of Vārāṇasī has been declared, purifying for five krośas,
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where the god named Avimukta is worshipped by Viśālākṣī;
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where Kapālamocana is, and where Kālabhairava abides;
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where the dead attain Rudra-hood—know that to be Kāśī, O sage!
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Gayā and Prayāga also have been described to you as bestowing all perfections.
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where the ancestors are indeed pleased by the offering of rice-balls;
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and you have heard of Kedāra, where the god who took the form of a buffalo
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was slain by the Goddess, granting all blessings to men;
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the sacred field Badarikāśrama, granting all perfections to mortals,
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where the three-eyed Lord dwells with the Goddess, worshipped by Nara and Nārāyaṇa;
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you have indeed heard of the sacred field Naimiṣa, where Maheśvara
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is named Devadeva, the holy one, and the Goddess is Sāraṅgadhāriṇī;
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the place called Amareśa, which accomplishes all aims, has been spoken of [by me],
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where the Lord is named Oṃkāra and the supreme Goddess is named Caṇḍikā;
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you have heard of the great place called Puṣkara spoken of by me,
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where the god is Rujogandhi and the supreme Goddess is Puruhūtā;
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the purifying place named Āṣāḍhī has been spoken of to you by me,
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where Hara is Āṣāḍheśa and the supreme Goddess is Ratīśā;
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and the place called Daṇḍimuṇḍin has been spoken of to you by me,
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where the great god is Muṇḍin and the supreme Goddess is Daṇḍikā;
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the completely purified place named Lākula has been spoken of to you by me,
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in which Hara is Lākulīśa and the all-auspicious Goddess is Anaṅgā;
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the place Bhārabhūti has been mentioned to you by me,
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where Śambhu is named Bhāra and the mountain's daughter is named Bhūti;
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the place named Arālakeśvara has been spoken of to you by me,
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where the trident-bearer is named Sūkṣma and the mountain's daughter is named Sūkṣmā;
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the great sacred field named Gayā has been mentioned by me to you,
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where Śivā is named Maṅgalā and Śaṃkara is Prapitāmaha;
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the place named Kurukṣetra has been related to you,
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where the goddess is Sthāṇupriyā and the god is named Sthāṇu;
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the excellent place named Kanakhala has been described to you by me,
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where the enemy of the cities is Ugra and the daughter of the best of mountains is Ugrā;
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the great sacred field named Tālaka has been declared by me, O Mārkaṇḍeya,
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where the goddess is Svāyaṃbhuvī and the supreme Lord is Svayambhū;
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the great place named Aṭṭahāsa has been spoken of to you by me,
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where the Sun, having worshipped the Lord, had his desires fulfilled;
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the sacred field named Kṛttivāsa has been described to you, O best knower of the Veda,
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the dwelling of the hide-clad Lord, which is praised even above Kailāsa;
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[you have heard of] Maheśa Mallikārjuna with the goddess Bhramarāmbikā,
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worshipped by Brahmā on Śrīśaila for the sake of accomplishment in creation;
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on the bank of the Suvarṇamukharī, Śaṃkara as Kālahasti
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was worshipped by Vyāsa, along with the Mother whose curls hum like bees;
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in Kāñcī, seated at the root of a mango tree, the chastiser of Kāma,
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closely embraced by Kāmākṣī as she performed austerity, was marked by her bracelet;
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there is the city named Vyāghrapura situated within the Tillika forest,
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where Patañjali waits upon the dancing Lord;
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the place named Śvetāraṇya was spoken of to you by me formerly,
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where Airāvata recovered his broken tusk through the worship of Śiva;
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I spoke of the place named Setubandha, where Rāghava
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installed the sin-destroying god under the name of Rāmanātha;
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there is the place named Gajaprati, where the bull-bannered Lord,
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resorted to the foot of a jambū tree for the protection of the world;
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along the Maṇimuktā river, in the sacred field named Vṛddhācala,
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the god is eternally present—this too has been heard by you;
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the unexcelled place named the glorious Madhyārjuna has been heard [by you],
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in which Hara, companion of Gaurī, is ever the granter of boons;
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Somatīrtha, inhabited by Somanātha, has been heard by you,
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where there is no further bondage to worldly existence for those who have abandoned the body;
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you have indeed heard of the sacred field named Siddhavaṭa,
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where the perfected beings worship the unexcelled liṅga of light;
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the sacred field known as Kamalālaya has indeed been heard of by you,
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where, through the worship of Valmīkeśa, the life of Hari's Śrī was regained;
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you have heard of Kaṅkādri, where Hara is present,
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whom Brahmā and Keśava worship even now for the sake of liberation;
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you know the glorious Droṇapura, in which, at the end of the Kali age,
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Pārvatī's husband boarded a boat when the ocean was agitated. // 52
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You have heard of the sacred field named Brahmapura, where formerly Indrajit
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established Dhūrjaṭi on the bank of the Āryapuṣkariṇī pond. // 53
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The sacred field called Śrīkoṭika is full of knowledge, where the crescent-crested [Lord]
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removes ten million sins of men who worship him. // 54
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And you have heard of Gokarṇa, which is Śiva, through whose presence
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the son of Jamadagni, desiring to worship him, does not long for heaven. // 55
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The sacred field Tripurāntaka was told to you, where the three-eyed [Lord]
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dispels fear of hell for men who have seen [him]. // 56
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The sacred field Kālāñjana was described, dwelling in which the black-throated [Lord]
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extinguishes the fierce fever of saṃsāra for his devotees. // 57
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Priyālavaṇa was described as a sacred field where Ambikā's husband
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bestowed the Ocean of Milk upon Upamanyu who begged for milk. // 58
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The sacred field Prabhāsa was told to you, where the crescent-crested [Lord],
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worshipped by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, granted inexhaustible fruit. // 59
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You know Vedāraṇya, where the lord of the Pramathas
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was besought for liberation by Dakṣa, who had previously committed a transgression. // 1.3.2.2.60
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You have heard of Hemakūṭa, the abode of the three-eyed [Lord],
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where there is no fear of rebirth for men practicing austerity. // 61
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There is a sacred field named Veṇuvana that destroys sins,
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where the pearl-gem Śivā was born from the womb of a bamboo cane. // 62
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You have heard of Jālandhara as the abode of the enemy of Andhaka,
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where Jalandhara attained the rank of Gaṇa through austerities. // 63
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You came to know the abode called Jvālāmukha as told by me,
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where Goddess Jvālāmukhī worshipped Kālarudra. // 64
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There is [the place] named Bhadravaṭa, a sacred field mentioned and heard by you,
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where Heramba fully worshipped the three-eyed [Lord] for prosperity. // 65
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Nyagrodhāraṇya was told to you, where the fierce [Lord] indeed performed
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a wildly violent tāṇḍava dance, entering into a rivalry with Kālī. // 66
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You have heard of that sacred field named Gandhamādana,
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where worship of Mṛtyuñjaya was performed by Hanumān. // 67
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The abode of Śambhu called Goparvata was made renowned by me,
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where Pāṇini attained pre-eminence among grammarians. // 68
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Surely you have taken note of the sacred field and abode named Vīrakoṣṭha,
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where Vālmīki attained pre-eminence among poets through austerity. // 69
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You know [the place] spoken of as Mahātīrtha, where all the gods,
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headed by Brahmā, were taught by Śambhu. // 1.3.2.2.70
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Mayūrapura was told to you by me as a sacred field sacred to Maheśvara,
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where Indra, observing a vow, obtained the thunderbolt. // 71
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The sacred field called Śrīsundara on the bank of the Vegavatī was mentioned,
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in which the God of gods shines even in the Kali age. // 72
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You know the abode of Śambhu called Kumbhakoṇa, where even that
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Gaṅgā manifests her presence in the month of Māgha to pacify her own sins. // 73
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You have heard of Tryambaka on the bank of the Godāvarī,
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where Guha obtained the spear that slays the demon Tāraka. // 74
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Śrīpāṭala and Vyāghrapura were described, O best knower of the Veda,
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where the Bearer of the Gaṅgā was worshipped by Triśaṅku for purity of caste. // 75
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And you have retained in mind the sacred field called Kadambapurī,
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where for your sake Śambhu destroyed Death with his trident. // 76
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The sacred field named Avināśa was told to you, where the bull-bannered [Lord],
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being pleased, bestowed his presence upon Paḍikaṇṭha. // 77
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The sacred field Raktaikānana was described to you by me, O sinless one,
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where Rudra, grantor of boons, was born to Mitra and Varuṇa. // 78
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You have heard of the sacred field Śrīhāṭakeśvara located in Pātāla,
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where Bali worships the god to regain his own position. // 79
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You know Kailāsa, the dear dwelling of Śambhu, where, as an eternal servant,
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the lord of the Yakṣas worships the three-eyed [Lord] with devotion. // 1.3.2.2.80
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These abodes of the axe-bearing [Lord] have been spoken of by me previously,
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and they have indeed been retained by you. What more do you wish to hear? // 81
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Having spoken thus, the son of Śilāda [addressed] the lord of sages, the son of the sage Mṛkaṇḍu:
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As he bowed down devotedly at his feet, [Nandin], moist with the sentiment of compassion, touched his head with his hand.
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Thus ends the second chapter, named “Description of Various Sacred Fields of Śiva on the Terrestrial Sphere,” in the second half of the Aruṇācalamāhātmya, in the first [section, the] Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a collection of eighty-one thousand verses.
Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit