Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24
अनेनात्र चंदनादि दत्त्वा राजमाषतण्डुलमिश्रकाश्च चतुःषष्टिकृतभागान्वटकान्निवेद्य तावत्यो दीपिकास्तावन्ति पत्राणि पूगानि निवेद्य दण्डवत्प्रणम्य महास्तुतिमेतां जपेत्
anenātra caṃdanādi dattvā rājamāṣataṇḍulamiśrakāśca catuḥṣaṣṭikṛtabhāgānvaṭakānnivedya tāvatyo dīpikāstāvanti patrāṇi pūgāni nivedya daṇḍavatpraṇamya mahāstutimetāṃ japet
Here, using this mantra, one should offer sandal and the like; present vaṭakas (cakes) prepared from a mixture of black gram and rice, divided into sixty-four portions; offer the same number of lamps, and likewise leaves and areca-nuts; then, bowing full-length (daṇḍavat), one should recite this great hymn.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) prescribing the ritual (deduced)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A ritual table before a guardian shrine: sandal paste, 64 small cakes, 64 lamps in rows, betel leaves and areca nuts; devotee performs full prostration and begins chanting a hymn.
FAQs
Devotion is expressed through disciplined, counted offerings and humility—ritual order mirrors inner order and earns protective grace.
The instruction is general to Kṣetrapāla worship within sacred precincts; no single tīrtha is named in this verse.
Offer sandalwood; naivedya of black-gram-and-rice vaṭakas in 64 portions; offer an equal number of lamps, leaves, and areca-nuts; prostrate (daṇḍavat) and recite the great hymn.