Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 42
कोटयो ब्रह्महत्यानामगम्यागमकोटयः । सद्यः प्रलयमायांति महादेवेति कीर्तनात्
koṭayo brahmahatyānāmagamyāgamakoṭayaḥ | sadyaḥ pralayamāyāṃti mahādeveti kīrtanāt
บาปนับโกฏิแม้หนักดุจพรหมหัตยา และบาปอันน่าสะพรึงเกินประมาณอีกนับโกฏิ ย่อมพินาศในทันทีด้วยการคีรตนะว่า “มหาเทวะ”
Devāḥ (the gods)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Dark, smoky forms symbolizing sins dissolve instantly as a radiant ‘Mahādeva’ mantra appears; a devotee chants before a liṅga, light washing away shadows.
FAQs
The divine Name is celebrated as supremely purifying, capable of dissolving even the heaviest karmic burdens.
The emphasis is on spiritual purification via Śiva’s Name; the tīrtha framework suggests pilgrimage merit is amplified by nāma-japa.
Chanting ‘Mahādeva’ (nāma-kīrtana/japa) is presented as a powerful prāyaścitta (atonement).