Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 61
शम्भो शशांककृतशेखर शांतमूर्ते गौरीश गोपतिनिशापहुताशनेत्र । गंगाधरांधकविदारण पुण्यकीर्ते भूतेश भूधरनिवास सदा नमस्ते
śambho śaśāṃkakṛtaśekhara śāṃtamūrte gaurīśa gopatiniśāpahutāśanetra | gaṃgādharāṃdhakavidāraṇa puṇyakīrte bhūteśa bhūdharanivāsa sadā namaste
O Śambhu—whose crest is adorned with the moon, whose form is peace; O Lord of Gaurī, whose eyes are the Sun, the Moon, and Fire. O Bearer of the Gaṅgā, slayer of Andhaka, whose fame is holy; O Lord of beings, dweller upon the mountains—ever to You be my salutations.
King (Rājā) praising Śiva (implicit)
Tirtha: Kailāsa (implied) / Gaṅgā (implied)
Type: peak
Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis
Scene: Śiva as Śāntamūrti seated on a mountain ledge, crescent moon in his hair, Gaṅgā flowing from his matted locks; three eyes subtly indicated as sun, moon, and fire; a subdued Andhaka demon motif beneath, signifying conquered darkness; Pārvatī nearby as Gaurīśa context.
FAQs
Remembering Śiva’s sacred marks and deeds (Gaṅgādhara, Andhaka-slayer, three-eyed) deepens devotion and reverence.
No single tīrtha is named; the verse evokes sacred geography indirectly through Gaṅgā and mountain-dwelling (Himālaya/Kailāsa imagery).
No explicit rite; the verse functions as a stotra for daily salutation (sadā namas te).