Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 10
एतेषां तपसा चैतद्धार्यते भुवनत्रयम् । उत्पाद्य ब्रह्मणा पूर्वमेते प्रोक्ता महर्षयः
eteṣāṃ tapasā caitaddhāryate bhuvanatrayam | utpādya brahmaṇā pūrvamete proktā maharṣayaḥ
ഇവരുടെ തപസ്സിന്റെ ശക്തിയാൽ ത്രിഭുവനവും നിലനിൽക്കുന്നു. പൂർവകാലത്ത് ബ്രഹ്മാവ് ഇവരെ സൃഷ്ടിച്ച് ‘മഹർഷികൾ’ എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിച്ചു।
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Avimukta (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Brahmā, four-faced, seated on a lotus, gestures in proclamation as a circle of newly created sages radiate ascetic brilliance; the triple world symbolically rests upon their tapas like a subtle cosmic pillar.
FAQs
Tapas is not merely personal discipline; it becomes a cosmic support that upholds the worlds when aligned with dharma.
The teaching occurs within the Kāśī/Avimukta narrative frame, preparing for the Avimukta-kṣetra’s liṅga and tīrtha praises.
No specific rite is prescribed; austerity (tapas) is praised as the sustaining spiritual practice.