Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 42
गङ्गा षष्टिसहस्रैस्तु क्षेत्रपालैः प्रपूज्यते । तदर्धैरन्यतीर्थानि रक्षन्ते नात्र संशयः
gaṅgā ṣaṣṭisahasraistu kṣetrapālaiḥ prapūjyate | tadardhairanyatīrthāni rakṣante nātra saṃśayaḥ
ഗംഗയെ അറുപതിനായിരം ക്ഷേത്രപാലകർ വിധിപൂർവ്വം പൂജിക്കുന്നു. മറ്റു തീർത്ഥങ്ങൾ അതിന്റെ പകുതി എണ്ണത്താൽ സംരക്ഷിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു—ഇതിൽ സംശയമില്ല.
Skanda (deduced from Skanda Purana narrative framework)
Tirtha: Gaṅgā-tīrtha (archetypal reference)
Type: river
Scene: A wide Gaṅgā river vista with luminous kṣetrapālas stationed along ghāṭas and riverbanks, forming a protective ring; pilgrims offer añjali while the river glows with sanctity.
FAQs
Tīrthas are living sacred realms guarded by divine protectors; reverence and purity are demanded within them.
Gaṅgā as the paradigmatic tīrtha, contrasted with other tīrthas protected by fewer kṣetrapālas.
No specific rite is commanded; the verse establishes the doctrine of kṣetrapāla-guardianship and implied reverence.