Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 85
धर्मकेतुः पुरा राजा यमलोकादुपागतः । मम प्रदक्षिणां कर्त्तुं तुरगेणाभ्यरोचयत्
dharmaketuḥ purā rājā yamalokādupāgataḥ | mama pradakṣiṇāṃ karttuṃ turageṇābhyarocayat
Autrefois, un roi nommé Dharmaketu, revenu du royaume de Yama, désira accomplir Ma pradakṣiṇā à cheval.
Śiva (continuing the instruction with an illustrative narrative)
Tirtha: Aruṇācala
Type: kshetra
Listener: Muni (sage)
Scene: King Dharmaketu, bearing marks of having traversed Yama’s realm, arrives at Arunācala; he looks eager and proud, gesturing toward a horse for circumambulation; sages and attendants watch with concern; the hill glows silently, awaiting the consequence.
FAQs
Even powerful rulers must follow sacred discipline; convenience in holy rites can become an obstacle.
Aruṇācala, where the rite of pradakṣiṇā is treated as a strict, meritorious observance.
It sets up the cautionary example that pradakṣiṇā should not be undertaken via a mount/vehicle.