Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 64
इन्द्रश्चाश्वयुजे मासि धाता तपति कार्तिके । मार्गशीर्षे तथा मित्रः पौषे पूषा दिवाकरः
indraścāśvayuje māsi dhātā tapati kārtike | mārgaśīrṣe tathā mitraḥ pauṣe pūṣā divākaraḥ
ஆஸ்வயுஜ மாதத்தில் இந்திரன் ஆட்சி செய்கிறான்; கார்த்திகையில் தாதா தபிக்கிறான். மார்கசீர்ஷத்தில் மித்ரன்; பௌஷத்தில் பூஷன்—ஓ திவாகரா—ஒளிர்கிறான்.
Skanda (deduced)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A four-month procession: Indra with vajra amid clearing skies (Āśvina), Dhātṛ as a serene cosmic scribe/ordainer with measuring cord (Kārtika), Mitra as a gentle radiant deity blessing companions (Mārgaśīrṣa), Pūṣan as a protector of roads with staff and cattle imagery (Pauṣa).
FAQs
It frames the year as a sacred procession of divine guardians, encouraging month-wise mindfulness and worship aligned with kāla (time).
Prabhāsa-kṣetra’s māhātmya provides the setting; such calendrical sanctification supports pilgrimage-season observances.
No direct prescription; Kārtika is named, which is widely associated with vrata practice, but this verse itself only assigns Dhātṛ to the month.