Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 5
शिवदीक्षाविधानेन लिंगपूजां समादिशत् । तेषामनुग्रहपरो मुनिः प्रमतवत्सलः । तीर्थादप्यधिकं स्थाने सतां साधुसमागमः
śivadīkṣāvidhānena liṃgapūjāṃ samādiśat | teṣāmanugrahaparo muniḥ pramatavatsalaḥ | tīrthādapyadhikaṃ sthāne satāṃ sādhusamāgamaḥ
Dengan tata cara inisiasi Śiva yang benar, sang muni mengajarkan mereka pemujaan Liṅga. Berhasrat menganugerahkan rahmat, beliau—yang mengasihi para pemuja yang setia—menyatakan: “Di mana-mana pun, pertemuan dengan orang suci lebih utama daripada sebuah tīrtha.”
Narrator (contextual; reporting Lomaśa’s instruction)
Tirtha: Sat-saṅga (Sādhu-goṣṭhī) as ‘living tīrtha’
Type: kshetra
Scene: Lomaśa instructs the newly accepted disciples in Śiva-dīkṣā and liṅga worship: a simple liṅga shrine, offerings (bilva leaves, water pot), the guru teaching mudrā/mantra; the disciples listen in devotion.
FAQs
The highest sanctity is not only in geography but in holy company; sadhu-saṅga can surpass even pilgrimage merit.
Rather than naming a single tīrtha, the verse elevates sat-saṅga itself as a superior ‘living tīrtha’ in any location.
Śiva-dīkṣā according to proper vidhi and the prescribed worship (pūjā) of the Śiva-liṅga.