Adhyaya 325
In this chapter, Īśvara instructs Devī to proceed to an eminent Vināyaka shrine on a beautiful riverbank, connected with ṛṣi-toya—waters sanctified by sages. There the deity is revealed as Gaṇeśa/Gaṇanātha, leader of the divine hosts, and identified with the cosmic power that destroys Tripura, thus exalting his stature within a Śaiva theological vision. His iconography is specified: he abides in an exalted gaja-rūpa (elephant form) in the great sacred field of Prabhāsa, surrounded by countless gaṇas. Pilgrims are explicitly directed to worship with full effort so that their journey becomes free of obstacles, offering daily gifts such as flowers and incense. The chapter further enjoins communal observance on caturthī (the fourth lunar day): city-dwellers should repeatedly hold a mahotsava (great festival) on caturthī for the welfare and security of the realm (rāṣṭra-kṣema) and for the attainment of siddhi (successful accomplishment).
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि विनायकमनुत्तमम् । ऋषितोयातटे रम्ये सर्वविघ्ननिवारणम्
Īśvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the unsurpassed Vināyaka on the lovely bank of Ṛṣitoyā, the remover of all obstacles.
Verse 2
योऽसौ देवगणाध्यक्षः साक्षाच्च त्रिपुरान्तकः । गजरूपं समाश्रित्य ह्युन्नते जगति स्थितः । प्राभासिके महाक्षेत्रे गणानां कोटिभिर्वृतः
He is the very lord of the divine hosts, Tripurāntaka himself; assuming the form of an elephant, he stands exalted in the world, in the great sacred field of Prabhāsa, surrounded by crores of gaṇas.
Verse 3
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन यात्रा निर्विघ्नहेतवे । आराध्यो गणनाथश्च पुष्पधूपादिभिः सदा
Therefore, with every effort, for the sake of an obstacle-free pilgrimage, Gaṇanātha should always be worshipped with flowers, incense, and other offerings.
Verse 4
चतुर्थ्यां च चतुर्थ्यां च सर्वैर्नगरवासिभिः । तस्मिन्महोत्सवः कार्यो राष्ट्रक्षेमार्थ सिद्धये
On every Caturthī (the fourth lunar day), all the residents of the city should collectively celebrate a great festival there, so that the welfare and security of the kingdom may be accomplished.
Verse 325
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य उन्नतस्वामिमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम पंचविंशत्युत्तरत्रिशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends Chapter 325, called “The Description of the Greatness of Unnatasvāmi,” in the Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa (Book Seven) of the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, within the Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya section of the Ekāśītisāhasrī Saṃhitā.