Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 75
तपोमयी तपोरूपा तपःस्तोम फलप्रदा । त्रैलोक्यव्यापिनी तृप्तिस्तृप्तिकृत्तत्त्वरूपिणी
tapomayī taporūpā tapaḥstoma phalapradā | trailokyavyāpinī tṛptistṛptikṛttattvarūpiṇī
She is made of tapas, the very form of austerity, and the giver of the fruits of accumulated penance. Pervading the three worlds, she is fulfillment itself—bestowing satisfaction—and she is the embodiment of ultimate reality.
Skanda
Tirtha: Gaṅgā in Kāśī as Tapomayī
Type: ghat
Listener: Ṛṣi audience in frame
Scene: Ascetics on Kāśī’s riverbank performing japa and meditation; Gaṅgā appears as a radiant ascetic-goddess with a water-pot, her stream forming a subtle mandala labeled ‘tattva’; pilgrims receive blessings as their ‘tapas’ glows like inner fire.
FAQs
Gaṅgā is presented as tapas made visible—approaching her with reverence perfects spiritual effort and brings deep fulfillment.
The Gaṅgā-tīrtha of Kāśī, understood as a place where austerity and grace converge.
No explicit prescription; the verse implies that tīrtha-sevā and stuti can yield the fruits of tapas.