Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 8
ईश्वर उवाच । अष्टानामपि देवेशि क्षेत्राणामस्ति चोत्तमम् । एतेषामपि तत्क्षेत्रं हाटकेश्वरसंज्ञितम्
īśvara uvāca | aṣṭānāmapi deveśi kṣetrāṇāmasti cottamam | eteṣāmapi tatkṣetraṃ hāṭakeśvarasaṃjñitam
ஈஸ்வரன் கூறினார்—தேவேசி! இந்த எட்டு புனிதக் க்ஷேத்ரங்களிலும் ஒன்று மிகச் சிறந்தது; அவற்றுள் அந்தக் க்ஷேத்ரம் ‘ஹாடகேஸ்வர’ எனப் பெயர்பெற்றது.
Īśvara (Śiva)
Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devī (Pārvatī)
Scene: Īśvara addresses Devī, proclaiming a supreme kṣetra named Hāṭakeśvara among eight sacred fields; the moment is declarative and hieratic, with a sense of revelation.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma teaches hierarchical sacred geography: a ‘supreme’ kṣetra concentrates the fruits of many pilgrimages.
Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra is declared the best among the eight renowned kṣetras.
Implicitly, one should prioritize pilgrimage and worship connected with Hāṭakeśvara; explicit rites appear in surrounding verses.