Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 1
ईश्वर उवाच । इति प्रोक्तानि ते देवि वक्त्रलिंगानि पंच वै । अथ ते संप्रवक्ष्यामि यत्र गौर्यास्तपो वनम् । स्थानं महाप्रभावं हि सुरसिद्धनिषेवितम्
īśvara uvāca | iti proktāni te devi vaktraliṃgāni paṃca vai | atha te saṃpravakṣyāmi yatra gauryāstapo vanam | sthānaṃ mahāprabhāvaṃ hi surasiddhaniṣevitam
Īśvara dit : «Ainsi, ô Devī, les cinq “Vaktra-liṅga” t’ont été exposés. À présent, je vais t’expliquer le lieu où Gaurī accomplit ses austérités — le Tapovana — un site d’une grande puissance, fréquenté par les dieux et les êtres accomplis.»
Śiva (Īśvara)
Tirtha: Gaurī Tapovana (Prabhāsa)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devī (Pārvatī)
Scene: Śiva speaks to Devī, pointing out a luminous Tapovana in Prabhāsa where Gaurī performed austerities; the grove is alive with subtle siddha presences and divine radiance.
FAQs
Austerity sanctifies geography: Gaurī’s tapas transforms a forest into a power-center where devas and siddhas naturally gather.
Gaurī’s Tapovana (forest of austerities) within Prabhāsakṣetra.
No direct rite; it introduces the māhātmya of a tapas-associated sacred place, implying pilgrimage and reverent visitation.