Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14
ध्वजभूतो ध्वजं दत्त्वा विपापः स्यात्पताकया । विधाय चित्रविन्यास गंधर्वैः सह मोदते
dhvajabhūto dhvajaṃ dattvā vipāpaḥ syātpatākayā | vidhāya citravinyāsa gaṃdharvaiḥ saha modate
En offrant une bannière, on devient, pour ainsi dire, une bannière d’honneur ; en donnant un drapeau, on est délivré du péché. Et, après avoir disposé des ornements aux motifs délicats, on se réjouit en compagnie des Gandharvas.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Type: ghat
Listener: Skanda
Scene: A temple courtyard during festival: tall banners and fluttering flags; intricate decorative patterns on the ground; celestial Gandharvas appear, singing as the donor rejoices.
FAQs
Even festive and aesthetic offerings to the deity—like banners and decorations—are dharmic acts that purify and elevate the devotee.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse praises the merit of temple-festival offerings in Śiva worship.
Dhvaja-dāna (offering a banner), patākā-dāna (offering a flag), and citra-vinyāsa (decorative arrangements) for the deity’s shrine.