Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 42
ये दीपमालां कुर्वंति कार्तिक्यां श्रद्धयान्विताः । यावत्कालं प्रज्वलंति दीपास्ते लिंगमग्रतः । तावद्युगसहस्राणि दाता स्वर्गे महीयते
ye dīpamālāṃ kurvaṃti kārtikyāṃ śraddhayānvitāḥ | yāvatkālaṃ prajvalaṃti dīpāste liṃgamagrataḥ | tāvadyugasahasrāṇi dātā svarge mahīyate
जे श्रद्धायुक्त होऊन कार्तिक महिन्यात शिवलिंगासमोर दीपमाळा लावतात—जितका काळ ते दिवे प्रज्वलित राहतात, तितकी सहस्र युगे दाता स्वर्गात पूज्य होतो।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Kedāra / Śiva-ālaya (general)
Type: temple
Scene: Night in Kārttika: a long garland/row of lamps blazing before a Śiva-liṅga; devotees place lamps with folded hands; the temple courtyard glows like a constellation.
FAQs
Faithful lamp-offering in Kārttika is praised as a powerful act yielding vast heavenly merit.
Kedārakhaṇḍa’s Śaiva sacred space is the backdrop, emphasizing worship before the Śiva-liṅga in a holy setting.
Perform dīpamālā (rows/garlands of lamps) in Kārttika before the liṅga, with śraddhā (faith).