Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 37
भूमेर्गन्धं तथा घ्राणं गौरवं मूर्तिमेव च । आत्मा गृह्णात्यजः पूर्वं तृतीये स्पन्दते च सः
bhūmergandhaṃ tathā ghrāṇaṃ gauravaṃ mūrtimeva ca | ātmā gṛhṇātyajaḥ pūrvaṃ tṛtīye spandate ca saḥ
पृथ्वीतत्त्वापासून गंध, घ्राणेंद्रिय, गौरव आणि स्थूल मूर्ती उत्पन्न होते. अज (अजन्मा) आत्मा हे प्रथम ग्रहण करतो; तिसऱ्या महिन्यात तो स्पंदन करून हालचाल करू लागतो।
Sūta (deduced for Āvantya Khaṇḍa narrative frame)
Tirtha: Avanti-kṣetra (Ujjain) / Revā region (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Earth element manifests as a brown-gold lotus of soil with fragrance lines; a nose/ghrāṇa emblem appears; the embryo gains weight and defined form; behind it, a subtle luminous ātman spark remains untouched, while a gentle heartbeat-like spanda begins.
FAQs
Embodiment is the Self’s assumption of elemental qualities; therefore the body is to be treated as sacred, not merely material.
The Revā Khaṇḍa backdrop relates to the Revā/Narmadā sacred corridor, but this verse is not a tīrtha-praise passage.
No explicit ritual instruction appears in this verse.