Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 2
चातुर्युगमिदं तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थेष्वनुत्तमम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन् रुद्रस्यानुचरो भवेत्
cāturyugamidaṃ tīrthaṃ sarvatīrtheṣvanuttamam | tatra snātvā naro rājan rudrasyānucaro bhavet
हे तीर्थ ‘चार युगांचे’ मानले जाते आणि सर्व तीर्थांमध्ये अनुत्तम आहे. हे राजन्, तेथे स्नान केल्यास मनुष्य रुद्राचा अनुचर होतो।
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya (continued)
Tirtha: Aṣāḍhītīrtha
Type: ghat
Listener: Rājan (king/prince addressed)
Scene: A proclamation of Aṣāḍhītīrtha’s supremacy: pilgrims bathing at the river steps, a radiant Śiva shrine nearby; the bather is envisioned as becoming Rudra’s attendant—subtle depiction of gaṇas welcoming the devotee.
FAQs
Ritual bathing at a Śiva-tīrtha is portrayed as transformative, granting proximity and service to Rudra.
Aṣāḍhītīrtha (by continuity), declared unsurpassed among tīrthas.
Snāna—bathing at the tīrtha.