Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 3
दानं वाऽथ व्रतंवाऽथ मंत्रःस्तोत्रजपोऽथवा । तीर्थांतराभिषेको वा देवतोपासनं तु वा
dānaṃ vā'tha vrataṃvā'tha maṃtraḥstotrajapo'thavā | tīrthāṃtarābhiṣeko vā devatopāsanaṃ tu vā
दान, किंवा व्रत, किंवा मंत्र-स्तोत्रांचा जप; अथवा अन्य तीर्थस्थानी अभिषेक-स्नान; किंवा देवतेची उपासना—असा काही उपाय आहे काय?
Agastya
Scene: A questioning sage enumerates practices—charity, vows, japa, stotra, other tīrtha baths, deity worship—like a garland of options offered to the listener.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma recognizes multiple valid practices—charity, vows, mantra-japa, worship—that can convey tīrtha-like merit.
The Gaṅgā remains the implied standard; other tīrthas are mentioned as possible substitutes (tīrthāntara).
Dāna, vrata, mantra/stotra-japa, tīrthāntara-abhiṣeka (bathing at other tīrthas), and devatā-upāsanā.