Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 5
तं दृष्ट्वा तु वरारोहे गंगास्नानफलं लभेत् । अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः
taṃ dṛṣṭvā tu varārohe gaṃgāsnānaphalaṃ labhet | aśvamedhasahasrasya phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ
হে সুশ্ৰী অঙ্গধাৰী দেৱী, কেৱল তাৰ দৰ্শন কৰিলেই গঙ্গাস্নানৰ ফল লাভ হয়; মানুহে সহস্ৰ অশ্বমেধ যজ্ঞৰ সমান পুণ্য প্ৰাপ্ত কৰে।
Śiva (deduced; addressing Devī as varārohā)
Tirtha: Gaṅgeśvara
Type: kshetra
Listener: Mahādevī (Pārvatī)
Scene: A pilgrim (or a group) stands before the Gaṅgeśvara-liṅga; the liṅga radiates sanctity as if Gaṅgā’s waters and the fire of a thousand Aśvamedhas are symbolically present; offerings, lamps, and a sense of miraculous merit fill the scene.
FAQs
Sincere darśana of a sanctified liṅga in a great tīrtha can bestow immense merit, comparable to major Vedic sacrifices.
Gaṅgeśvara in Prabhāsa Kṣetra, whose darśana is praised as supremely merit-giving.
Darśana (reverent viewing/visitation) is emphasized; the merit is compared to Gaṅgā-snān and Aśvamedha performance.