Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24
चांद्रायणादीनि पुनस्तपांसि विहितानि च । आहारलाघवपरः कुर्यात्तत्तप उच्यते
cāṃdrāyaṇādīni punastapāṃsi vihitāni ca | āhāralāghavaparaḥ kuryāttattapa ucyate
चांद्रायण आदि तप शास्त्रों में पुनः-पुनः विधिपूर्वक बताए गए हैं। जो आहार को हल्का रखकर साधना करता है, वही तप कहलाता है।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Scene: A Shaiva ascetic or disciplined householder sits near a simple altar with bilva leaves and a water pot, taking sparse food in measured portions, moon phases subtly indicated to evoke Cāndrāyaṇa.
FAQs
Tapas is disciplined self-restraint, especially through regulated and light diet, supported by scripturally enjoined vows.
No site is named; the verse describes vrata-based discipline rather than a location’s māhātmya.
Cāndrāyaṇa and related austerity-vratas are mentioned, along with dietary reduction as a form of tapas.