Adhyaya 122
This chapter is a concise instruction in which Īśvara (Śiva) speaks to Devī and points her to a Prabhāsa-kṣetra liṅga called Citrāṅgadeśvara. It supplies pilgrim-like directions: the liṅga lies in the south‑western quarter, about twenty bows away, fitting the itinerary style of the section. The shrine’s origin is ascribed to Citrāṅgada, a lord of the gandharvas. Recognizing the site’s purity, he performed intense austerities, propitiated Maheśvara, and installed the liṅga there. The text then states the fruit of worship: adoration done with bhāva—devotional, heartfelt intention—grants access to the gandharva realm and companionship with gandharvas. A calendrical rule is added: on śukla-trayodaśī one should bathe Śiva according to proper procedure and worship in sequence with various flowers, fragrances, and incense. The promised result is complete fulfillment of desired aims, grounded in correct observance and inner devotion.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि लिंगं चित्रांगदेश्वरम् । तस्यैव नैरृते भागे धनुर्विंशतिभिः स्थितम्
Īśvara said: “Then, O Mahādevī, one should go to the liṅga named Citrāṅgadeśvara. It is situated in the south-western quarter (nairṛta), at a distance of twenty dhanu.”
Verse 2
चित्रांगदेन देवेशि गंधर्वपतिना प्रिये । क्षेत्रं पवित्रं ज्ञात्वा वै लिंगं तत्र प्रतिष्ठितम् । कृत्वा तपो महाघोरं समाराध्य महेश्वरम्
O Deveśī, beloved, Citrāṅgada—the lord of the Gandharvas—recognizing the sanctity of that holy field, established a liṅga there. Having performed extremely austere tapas, he duly propitiated Maheśvara.
Verse 3
अथ यो भावसंयुक्तस्तल्लिगं संप्रपूजयेत् । गांधर्वलोकमाप्नोति गन्धर्वैः सह मोदते
Now, whoever worships that liṅga with heartfelt devotion attains the world of the Gandharvas and rejoices there in the company of Gandharvas.
Verse 4
तत्र शुक्लत्रयोदश्यां संस्नाप्य विधिना शिवम् । पूजयेद्विविधैः पुष्पैर्गंधधूपैरनु क्रमात् । स प्राप्नोत्यखिलं कामं मनसा यद्यदीप्सितम्
There, on the bright-fortnight thirteenth day, having bathed Śiva according to the proper rite, one should worship in due sequence with various flowers, fragrances, and incense. He obtains every desired aim—whatever he longs for in his mind.
Verse 122
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखंडे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये चित्रांगदेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्वाविंशत्युत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one-hundred-and-twenty-second chapter, entitled “The Description of the Greatness of Citrāṅgadeśvara,” in the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa, within the Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya of the venerable Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the compendium of eighty-one thousand verses.