Adhyaya 1

Adhyāya 1 begins in the classic Purāṇic setting of Naimiṣāraṇya, where Śaunaka and other sages perform a twelve-year satra for the protection of the world and invite the paurāṇika Sūta (Ugraśravas) to narrate the Skanda Purāṇa. Sūta recalls an earlier question he posed to Vyāsa, and Vyāsa relates an ancient episode: Nārada ascends Sumeru, beholds a radiant divine pavilion beneath the cosmic pippala tree, and attains darśana of Puruṣottama with the face of Varāha, seated upon a lotus-throne amid sages and celestial beings. Dharaṇī (Earth), arriving with companions and offerings, is embraced by Varāha and asks about the chief mountains established as her supports. Varāha names the great mountain ranges and then turns to the southern sacred landscape near rivers and lakes, identifying Nārāyaṇādri/Śrīveṅkaṭācala and nearby holy features such as Suvarṇamukharī, Kamalākha-sarovar, and the temple region. The chapter then ranks the tīrthas, exalting Svāmipuṣkariṇī as supreme and describing the multitude of tīrthas within it (including the traditional formula of “sixty-six crores”). It specifies six principal tīrthas and the timed bathing merits at Kumāradhārikā, Tuṃba, Ākāśagaṅgā, Pāṇḍava, Pāpanāśana, and Devatīrtha. It closes with Dharaṇī’s hymn to Varāha, Varāha’s movement with her to Vṛṣabhācala/Śeṣācala, and a phalaśruti promising rank and desired attainments to those who faithfully listen or recite.