Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 15
पूर्वं जाता महाराज धूममूर्तिर्भयावहा । ततो ज्वाला ततः कन्या शुक्लवासोऽनुलेपना । दृष्ट्वा तां तुष्टुवुर्देवाः कृतांजलिपुटास्ततः
pūrvaṃ jātā mahārāja dhūmamūrtirbhayāvahā | tato jvālā tataḥ kanyā śuklavāso'nulepanā | dṛṣṭvā tāṃ tuṣṭuvurdevāḥ kṛtāṃjalipuṭāstataḥ
At first, O great king, she appeared as a fearsome form of smoke; then as a flame; and then as a maiden, clad in white and anointed with fragrance. Seeing her, the gods praised her with palms joined in reverence.
Narrator (addressing: mahārāja)
Tirtha: Devī-āvirbhāva-sthāna on Arbuda
Type: kshetra
Listener: Mahārāja (king)
Scene: A three-stage apparition: first a fearsome smoke-bodied Devī, then a blazing flame-form, then a serene maiden in white with fragrant anointing; devas stand with folded hands singing hymns.
FAQs
The Divine may appear in awe-inspiring forms before revealing a gentle, auspicious presence; reverent praise is the natural response.
Arbuda-khaṇḍa’s holy setting where Devī’s theophany is narrated.
Stuti (hymnic praise) with añjali (folded hands) as a devotional response to darśana.
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