Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 58
शक्रतीर्थमिति ख्यातं चतुर्थं बालमण्डनम् । तत्र स्नात्वा च पंचाहं शक्रेश्वरमवेक्ष्य च । आश्विनस्य सितेऽष्टम्यां सर्वेषां लभते फलम्
śakratīrthamiti khyātaṃ caturthaṃ bālamaṇḍanam | tatra snātvā ca paṃcāhaṃ śakreśvaramavekṣya ca | āśvinasya site'ṣṭamyāṃ sarveṣāṃ labhate phalam
O quarto tīrtha é afamado como Śakratīrtha, o “Bālamaṇḍana” (que adorna e beneficia os jovens). Quem ali se banhar por cinco dias e contemplar Śakreśvara (Śiva), no oitavo tithi da quinzena clara de Āśvina obtém o fruto de todos os méritos.
Viśvāmitra (contextual)
Tirtha: Śakratīrtha (Bālamaṇḍana)
Type: ghat
Scene: A temple tank labeled Śakratīrtha where pilgrims bathe for five consecutive days; children are ceremonially adorned (bālamaṇḍana) while elders offer lamps; the Śakreśvara liṅga shrine stands nearby with Indra/Śakra iconography (vajra, elephants) subtly present.
FAQs
Pilgrimage disciplines (multi-day snāna) combined with Śiva-darśana, performed on an auspicious tithi, are portrayed as yielding comprehensive religious merit.
Śakratīrtha and its presiding Śiva, Śakreśvara, within Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s tīrtha-list.
Bathing at Śakratīrtha for five days and taking darśana of Śakreśvara, especially on Āśvina bright aṣṭamī.