The Geography of the Puranas c6.47

c6.47

All scholars agree that the Skanda Purāṇa does not exist as a complete work, and that only fragments in the form of Saṃhitās, Khaṇḍas and Māhātmyas found in various parts of the country constitute portions of this Purāṇa. The most celebrated of these is the Kāśī Khaṇḍa (in 15,000 stanzas), which gives a detailed description of the temples of Śiva in or adjacent to Vārāṇasī. The story of Agastya probably presents in the form of a legend, an account of the propagation of Hinduism in South India. The Utkala Khaṇḍa similarly highlights the holiness of Orissa and Puruṣottama Kṣetra or Jagannātha, and Bhuvaneśwara. Other Khaṇḍas, e.g., Brahmottara Khaṇḍa, Revā Khaṇḍa, Himavat Khaṇḍa, etc. emphasize the sanctity of local temples or group of temples in certain regions.