Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
ततः परं जलाहारो जातो वर्षशतं हि सः । वायुभक्षस्ततोऽभूत्स यावद्वर्षशतं परम्
tataḥ paraṃ jalāhāro jāto varṣaśataṃ hi saḥ | vāyubhakṣastato'bhūtsa yāvadvarṣaśataṃ param
Après cela, durant cent ans il ne vécut que d’eau; puis il devint celui qui « se nourrit d’air » pendant encore cent ans.
Sūta (narration continues)
Type: kshetra
Scene: The ascetic king by a water source, then later seated unmoving as if sustained by breath alone; body emaciated yet radiant; air currents and subtle aura indicate vāyubhakṣa state.
FAQs
Progressive renunciation symbolizes increasing inwardness—each step reduces dependence and intensifies devotion toward Śiva.
The austerity takes place within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra narrative frame of Nāgara Khaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya.
A graded tapas-vrata: water-only subsistence (jalāhāra) followed by extreme restraint (vāyubhakṣa).