Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 28
काष्ठपाषाणलोष्टेषु मृन्मयेषु विशेषतः । मन्त्रेण लोके पूजां तु कुर्वन्ति न ह्यमन्त्रतः
kāṣṭhapāṣāṇaloṣṭeṣu mṛnmayeṣu viśeṣataḥ | mantreṇa loke pūjāṃ tu kurvanti na hyamantrataḥ
Surtout pour les formes de bois, de pierre, de motte ou, plus encore, d’argile, en ce monde on accomplit la pūjā au moyen du mantra — jamais, certes, sans mantra.
Skanda (deduced)
Scene: A shrine with multiple material icons: a stone liṅga, a wooden deity panel, a clay image; devotees offer flowers and lamps while a priest recites mantras; the mantra is visually suggested by a palm-leaf text or sound-wave motif around the icon.
FAQs
Mantra is the consecrating power that makes worship of physical forms spiritually meaningful and effective.
The verse supports the Revā Khaṇḍa tīrtha-temple ethos, where proper worship practices are emphasized.
Perform pūjā with mantra, particularly when worship involves material icons/forms such as stone or clay.