Adhyaya 156
Chapter 156 gives a brief tīrtha instruction within the Ratneśvara-māhātmya, as Īśvara speaks to Devī. He identifies a particular shrine: the liṅga connected with Vainateya (Garuda), called “Vainateya-pratiṣṭhita,” located north of Ratneśvara at a distance measured in dhanus. In the Purāṇic account, Garuda, recognizing the place as Vaiṣṇava in character, installs a sin-destroying liṅga there. Īśvara prescribes worship on the fifth lunar day (pañcamī) according to proper procedure (vidhānataḥ). One who bathes the liṅga with pañcāmṛta and worships it ritually gains protection from serpent-born poison for seven births, attains all merit, and enjoys heavenly bliss.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि वैनतेयप्रतिष्ठितम् । रत्नेश्वरादुत्तरतो धनुषां त्रितये स्थितम्
Īśvara said: Then, O Great Goddess, one should go to the shrine established by Vainateya (Garuḍa), situated to the north of Ratneśvara at a distance of three dhanuṣ-measures.
Verse 2
वैनतेयश्च देवेशि ज्ञात्वा क्षेत्रं तु वैष्णवम् । लिंगं प्रतिष्ठयामास सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
O Lady of the Gods, Vainateya (Garuḍa), knowing this to be a Vaiṣṇava holy region, established a liṅga that destroys all sins.
Verse 3
यस्तं पूजयते भक्त्या पंचम्यां तु विधानतः । न विषं क्रमते तस्य सप्त जन्मानि सर्पजम्
Whoever worships Him with devotion on the fifth lunar day (pañcamī), according to proper observance, the poison born of serpents will not afflict that person for seven births.
Verse 4
पंचामृतेन संस्नाप्य पूजयित्वा विधानतः । प्राप्नुयात्सकलं पुण्यं मोदते दिवि देववत्
Having bathed (the deity) with pañcāmṛta and worshipped according to the proper rite, one attains the entirety of merit and rejoices in heaven like a god.
Verse 156
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये रत्नेश्वरमाहात्म्ये गरुडेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम षट्पंचाशदुत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the compilation of eighty-one thousand verses, within the seventh—Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa, in the first part, the Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya, within the Ratneśvara Māhātmya—concludes the chapter entitled “Description of the Greatness of Garuḍeśvara,” being Chapter 156.