Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44
एकविंशतिवारांस्तु गयायां तर्पणे कृते । पितॄणां परमा तृप्तिः सकृद्वै गंगकूपके
ekaviṃśativārāṃstu gayāyāṃ tarpaṇe kṛte | pitṝṇāṃ paramā tṛptiḥ sakṛdvai gaṃgakūpake
Walaupun tarpaṇa dilakukan di Gayā sebanyak dua puluh satu kali, kepuasan tertinggi para leluhur sesungguhnya dicapai dengan melakukannya sekali sahaja di Gaṅgākūpaka.
Bhūta (continued narration)
Tirtha: Gaṅgākūpaka
Type: kund
Scene: A pilgrim at a stone-lined sacred well (kūpa) offers tarpaṇa—cupped hands pouring water with black sesame—while subtle divine radiance suggests Gaṅgā’s presence; pitṛs appear in the background receiving satisfaction.
FAQs
The Purāṇa magnifies specific sacred sites by asserting concentrated spiritual efficacy for pitṛ rites.
Gaṅgākūpaka is exalted as exceptionally powerful for ancestral offerings.
Tarpaṇa—performed once at Gaṅgākūpaka—is said to yield the highest pitṛ satisfaction.