Essence Of Skanda Purana

Some Tirthas and Kshetras of repute

Nandiswar narrated to Markandeya that besides the Gupta Kshetra, Bharat is dotted with innumerable Tirthas and Punya Kshetras all over. The major Siva Pradhan (Siva-Oriented) Kshetras include ‘Varanasi’ where Avimukta Maha Deva, Visalakshi, Annapurna, Kapala Mochana Tirtha, Kala Bhairava Nivas and the Jeeva Ganga were the highlights;

‘Gaya’ Tirtha is well reputed as a Holy Place for performing ‘Pinda Pradaan’; ‘Kedar’ where Shankar is present in the Form of Mahisha fulfilling human desires; ‘Badarikashrama’ where Devi Parvati and Maha Deva worship Vishnu in the form of Nara Narayana; ‘Naimisharanya’where Maha Deva was known for destroying Tripurasura; ‘Amaresha’Kshetra where Siva is in the form of ‘Omkareswara’ and Devi Parvati as ‘Chandika’; ‘Pushkar Maha Tirtha’ where Rujogandhi Siva and Puruhuta named Devi reside; ‘Ashadhi’named Tirtha Sthaan where ‘Ashadh Mahadeva and Rati Devi stay; ‘Dandi-Mundi’ Tirtha where Mundi named Rudra and ‘Dandi’ Devatha inhabit; ‘Aralakeswar’ Kshetra is the abode of ‘Sukshma’ Siva and ‘Sukshmi’Girijakumari; ‘Kurukshetra’ where ‘Sthanu’ Deva and ‘Sthanupriya’ Devi stay; ‘Kankhal’ where Siva in the form of ‘Ugra’ and ‘Uma’ named Devi are housed; ‘Attahaas’ Tirtha is the Place where Surya Deva worships; ‘Srishaila’ is a popular Kshetra worshipping ‘Mallikarjuna’ and  ‘Bhramaramba’, where Brahma did penance for Siddhi before taking up Creation of human beings; ‘Kalahasti’ on the banks of River ‘Suvarnamukhi’ displaying ‘Kalahasteswara’ and ‘Bhringamukharalika’ (Jnana Prasunamba) where Veda Vyasa worshipped; till date Pujas are performed to appease Rahu and Kethu Devas among the ‘Navagrahas’; ‘Kancheepura Kshetra’ where ‘Devi Kamakshi’ performed Tapasya under a Mangoe Tree to ‘Kamashasan’(Ekambareswar); ‘Vyaghrapuri Tirtha’ near Tillinanam where Siva is present as famous ‘Nataraja’ in the dance form at Chidambaram, where Maharshi Patanjali did his ‘upasana’; ‘Sethubandhana’ / ‘Rameswara’where Sri Rama and Devi Sita returned from Lanka after killing Ravanasura and Sita set up a Sand Linga, since Hanuman Deva was unable to bring a fascimile of Kasi Visveswara on time; ‘Soma Tirtha’where ‘Somnath’is present; ‘Gokarna Kshetra’ where Bhagavan Gokarneswar is present; ‘Brahmapura Kshetra’ on the banks of Pushkarini where Brahma established Parama Siva; ‘Tripuranthak Kshetra’ where the Three Eyed Siva demolishes the devotees’ fear of ‘Naraka’; ‘Prabhasa Kshetra’where Sri Krishna and Balabhadra worship ‘Chandrardha Sekhar’; ‘Jaalandhar kshetra’where Andhakasura was killed by Siva and Jalandhar did Tapasya to become the Head of ‘Shivaganas’; ‘Jwalamukhi’ Sthaan ( Place) where Devi Jwalamukhi worships ‘Kaala Rudra’; ‘Triambakeswar’ on the banks of Godavari River where Kartikeya secured the Shakti to kill Tarakasura and so on.