Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 101
ईशानवक्त्रं प्रणमामि त्वाहं स्तौति श्रुतिः सर्वविद्येश्वरस्त्वम् । भूतेश्वरस्त्वं प्रपितामहस्त्वं तस्मै नमस्तेस्तु महेश्वराय
īśānavaktraṃ praṇamāmi tvāhaṃ stauti śrutiḥ sarvavidyeśvarastvam | bhūteśvarastvaṃ prapitāmahastvaṃ tasmai namastestu maheśvarāya
Ako’y yumuyuko at sumasamba sa Iyong mukhang Īśāna. Ang mga Veda mismo ang pumupuri sa Iyo—Ikaw ang Panginoon ng lahat ng kaalaman, Panginoon ng mga nilalang, at ang Sinaunang Ninuno. Kaya, pagpupugay sa Iyo, O Maheśvara.
A dvija devotee (as implied by the immediate narrative context)
Tirtha: Mahākāla / Maheśvara (liṅga)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Maheśvara/Śiva (addressed)
Scene: The devotee salutes the Īśāna face of Śiva—suggested as a subtle, serene visage above/behind the liṅga—while Vedic sages appear as embodiments of Śruti, offering praise-scrolls and chanting.
FAQs
All knowledge and all beings find their sovereign in Śiva; reverence to the Īśāna aspect aligns the devotee with the highest authority of dharma and wisdom.
No single tirtha is named; the verse functions as a doctrinal praise within the chapter’s sacred setting.
The practice implied is praṇāma (prostration) and Veda-grounded praise (stuti).