Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 69
संस्नाप्य भास्करं स्थाणुं तत्पुरः शतरुद्रियम् । जपन्सामोक्तरुद्रांश्च भव रुद्रांस्तथा जपन् । प्राणरुद्रांस्तथा नीलान्स्कन्दसूक्तसमन्वितान्
saṃsnāpya bhāskaraṃ sthāṇuṃ tatpuraḥ śatarudriyam | japansāmoktarudrāṃśca bhava rudrāṃstathā japan | prāṇarudrāṃstathā nīlānskandasūktasamanvitān
Nachdem er Bhāskara und Sthāṇu rituell gebadet hatte, rezitierte er das Śatarudrīya in ihrer Gegenwart; und er sang auch die Rudra-Hymnen, die im Sāman gelehrt werden, ebenso sang er die Bhava-Rudras, die Prāṇa-Rudras und die Nīla-Formen – zusammen mit dem Skanda-sūkta.
Viśvāmitra (narrating)
Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pārthiva (king)
Scene: A tapasvin performs abhiṣeka to two icons—Sūrya radiant and Śiva as Sthāṇu—then chants with rosary and Vedic posture; sacred fire and water nearby; attendants hold vessels.
FAQs
Purification is strengthened by mantra and worship: abhiṣeka and Rudra-japa align the seeker with Śiva’s grace and Skanda’s protective power.
The practices occur within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra setting, continuing its māhātmya through the description of worship and japa.
Ritual bathing/ablution of Bhāskara and Sthāṇu, recitation of Śatarudrīya, and japa of multiple Rudra-hymn cycles including Skanda-sūkta.