Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5
सूत उवाच । इंद्रेण स्थापितः पूर्वमेष देवो द्विजोत्तमाः । कपालेश्वसंज्ञस्तु ब्रह्महत्या विमुक्तये
sūta uvāca | iṃdreṇa sthāpitaḥ pūrvameṣa devo dvijottamāḥ | kapāleśvasaṃjñastu brahmahatyā vimuktaye
सूत उवाच—हे द्विजोत्तमाः, एष देवः पूर्वम् इन्द्रेण स्थापितः। कपालेश्वरसंज्ञोऽयं ब्रह्महत्यापापविमुक्तये पूज्यते।
Sūta
Tirtha: Kapāleśvara
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣayaḥ (dvijottamāḥ)
Scene: Sūta answers: Indra once established the Kapāleśvara liṅga seeking freedom from brahmahatyā; the scene can juxtapose Indra’s contrition with the serene liṅga.
FAQs
Śiva’s sacred presence at a tīrtha is portrayed as a direct means of purification from even grave sins when approached with devotion.
The Adhyāya centers on Kāpāleśvara in the broader Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra.
The verse highlights the purpose of the deity’s स्थापना (installation): brahmahatyā-vimukti, implying worship at this shrine as expiatory practice.