Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 18
उदङ्मुखस्तु देवानां पितॄणां दक्षिणामुखः । अग्निना भस्मना वापि यवेनाप्युदकेन वा । द्वारसंक्रमणेनापि पंक्तिदोषो न विद्यते
udaṅmukhastu devānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ | agninā bhasmanā vāpi yavenāpyudakena vā | dvārasaṃkramaṇenāpi paṃktidoṣo na vidyate
Bagi upacara kepada para Deva, hendaklah menghadap ke utara; bagi upacara kepada para Pitṛ, hendaklah menghadap ke selatan. Dan walaupun penyucian dilakukan dengan api, abu, jelai, air, atau sekadar melintasi ambang pintu, tidak timbul ‘paṅkti-doṣa’ (kecacatan barisan/urutan jamuan).
Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya narrative style)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A ritual hall near a coastal shrine: one group faces north offering to devas; another faces south offering to pitṛs. A doorway stands prominent; a participant crosses the threshold after sprinkling water/holding ash, then joins a seated dining line without defect.
FAQs
Dharma is protected by correct intention and simple purifications; sacred rites for Devas and Pitṛs remain valid when performed with prescribed orientation and cleansing.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra (Prabhās). The chapter frames these śrāddha-rules as especially authoritative within this sacred geography.
Face north for Deva-rites and south for Pitṛ-rites; purify using fire, ash, barley, water, or even by crossing a threshold—thereby avoiding paṅkti-doṣa.