Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24
चांद्रायणादीनि पुनस्तपांसि विहितानि च । आहारलाघवपरः कुर्यात्तत्तप उच्यते
cāṃdrāyaṇādīni punastapāṃsi vihitāni ca | āhāralāghavaparaḥ kuryāttattapa ucyate
চান্দ্রায়ণ প্রভৃতি তপস্যা শাস্ত্রে বিধিবদ্ধভাবে নির্দিষ্ট। যে আহারকে লঘু করে সাধনা করে, তাকেই তপ বলা হয়।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Scene: A Shaiva ascetic or disciplined householder sits near a simple altar with bilva leaves and a water pot, taking sparse food in measured portions, moon phases subtly indicated to evoke Cāndrāyaṇa.
FAQs
Tapas is disciplined self-restraint, especially through regulated and light diet, supported by scripturally enjoined vows.
No site is named; the verse describes vrata-based discipline rather than a location’s māhātmya.
Cāndrāyaṇa and related austerity-vratas are mentioned, along with dietary reduction as a form of tapas.