Essence Of Skanda Purana

ESSENCE OF SKANDA (KARTIKA) PURANA

MANGALAACHARANA
Om Narayanam Namaskruthya Naramchaiva Narotthamam
Devim Sarasvathichaiva Tato Jagamudeerayet
Yasyajna Jagat Srishta Virinchih Paalako Harih /
Samhartha Kaala Rudrakhyo Namastasmai Pinaakiney
(Our Salutations to you Pinaakini! You have instructed Lord Brahma to create and Lord Hari to administer and you have assumed the task of Destruction as Kaala Rudra.)

Skanda (Kartika) Purana is the largest of all the major Eighteen Puranas, divided into Seven ‘Khandas’ or Branches viz. Maheswara Khanda, Vishnu Khanda, Brahma Khanda, Kasi Khanda, Avanthya Khanda, Nagara Khanda and Prabhasa Khanda. Maheswara Khanda is subdivided into three Upa Khandas as Kedara, Kaumarika and Arunachala. Vishnu Khanda has nine Upa Khandas, viz. Venkatachala Mahatmya, Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya, Badarikashrama Mahatmya, Kartika Masa Mahatmya, Margasira Masa Mahatmya, Vishakha Mahatmya and Ayodhya Mahatmya. Brahma Khanda has three Upa Khandas viz. Sethu Mahatmya, Dharmaranya and Uttara / Brahmottara. Kasi Khanda has two parts viz. Purvardha and Uttarardha. Avanthya Khanda has three Upa Khandas viz. Avanti Kshetra Mahatmya, Chaturasiti Linga Mahatmya and Reva Upa Khanda. Nagara Khanda has Tirtha Mahatmya. Finally, Prabhasa Khanda has Prabhasa Kshetra Mahatmya and Dwaraka Kshetra Mahatmya. The division of the Skanda (Kartika) Purana into the Seven Khandas is to provide road-map assistance to the readers.
At the successful completion of Yagna organised by Sage Suta at Naimisharanya which was attended by several Munis, Sage Lomesh addressed the congregation about the various incidents related to Maheswara, Vishnu and Brahma as well as the significance of Maha Kshetras like Kasi, Avanthya and Prabhasa and the Preachings so narrated have been immortalised as Skanda (Kartika ) Purana.