Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 90
महाबलाभिधानेन देवः संनिहितः स्वयम् । घोरेण तपसा लब्धं रावणाख्येन रक्षसा
mahābalābhidhānena devaḥ saṃnihitaḥ svayam | ghoreṇa tapasā labdhaṃ rāvaṇākhyena rakṣasā
അവിടെ ‘മഹാബല’ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ സ്വയം ഭഗവാൻ സന്നിഹിതനാണ്. രാവണൻ എന്ന രാക്ഷസൻ ചെയ്ത ഘോരതപസ്സാൽ ഈ മഹിമ ലഭിച്ചു.
Unknown (narrative voice not identifiable from the isolated verse; likely Purāṇic narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)
Tirtha: Mahābala/Mahābaleśvara at Gokarṇa
Type: kshetra
Scene: Rāvaṇa performs fierce austerity—standing in penance with intense focus—while Śiva’s presence manifests as the Mahābala liṅga radiating power; the scene balances awe with the danger of pride.
FAQs
Intense tapas can draw divine presence; even adversarial figures like Rāvaṇa are shown engaging the dharmic power of austerity.
Gokarṇa, specifically in relation to the deity/linga known as Mahābala.
Tapas (austerity) is referenced as the means by which sacred attainment was achieved.