Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 181
देवेन च वरो दत्तस्त्वल्लिंगं योऽर्चयिष्यति । जितेन्द्रियः शुचिर्भूत्वा ऊर्ध्वं मल्लोकमेष्यति
devena ca varo dattastvalliṃgaṃ yo'rcayiṣyati | jitendriyaḥ śucirbhūtvā ūrdhvaṃ mallokameṣyati
देव ने यह वर दिया—जो कोई भी तुम्हारे लिंग की पूजा शुद्ध होकर और इन्द्रियों को जीतकर करेगा, वह ऊपर मेरे लोक को प्राप्त होगा।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) reporting Śiva’s boon (deduced)
Tirtha: Mahākāla-liṅga (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and sages (outer frame) / interlocutor within Kaumārikākhaṇḍa (contextual)
Scene: Śiva (Mahākāla) granting a boon: a radiant liṅga at the center, a devotee in austere purity with folded hands; upward path of light symbolizing ascent to Śiva’s world.
FAQs
Liṅga-worship joined with inner purity and self-mastery leads to liberation-oriented attainment—reaching Śiva’s realm.
The liṅga associated with Mahākāla and Śiva-sthāna is praised as a gateway to Śiva-loka.
Arcana (worship) of the liṅga, along with śauca (purity) and jitendriyatā (sense-control).