Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 147
शुचित्वं च जपं स्थाणुं यः कुर्याद्विंशतिं तथा । माहेश्वरः स विज्ञेयः शेषोन्यो नामधारकः
śucitvaṃ ca japaṃ sthāṇuṃ yaḥ kuryādviṃśatiṃ tathā | māheśvaraḥ sa vijñeyaḥ śeṣonyo nāmadhārakaḥ
यः शुचित्वं पालयन् स्थाणोर्जपं विंशतिवारं विधिवत्करोति, स एव माहेश्वरः विज्ञेयः; शेषाः केवलं नामधारकाः।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A devotee with rudrākṣa and tripuṇḍra performs japa before a liṅga labeled ‘Sthāṇu’; a contrast figure stands nearby with only external marks, shown as ‘name-bearer’ without practice; purity is symbolized by a water pot and clean white cloth.
FAQs
A Māheśvara is recognized by purity and steady japa, not by self-identification alone.
No site is mentioned; the verse defines devotional qualification.
Purity and a prescribed count of japa of Śiva (Sthāṇu), stated as “twenty times.”