Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

महापूजार्थमाल्यादि गुंफनार्थैस्त्रिकालतः । शंखभेरीमृदंगादिवाद्यनादैः शिवालये

Transliteration

mahāpūjārthamālyādi guṃphanārthaistrikālataḥ | śaṃkhabherīmṛdaṃgādivādyanādaiḥ śivālaye

Translation

مہاپوجا کے لیے تینوں اوقات میں ہاروں وغیرہ کو گوندھ کر تیار کرنا؛ اور شِو کے مندر میں شنکھ، بھیری، مِردنگ وغیرہ سازوں کی گونج دار آوازوں سے—کاشی کی پوجا کی شان و شوکت نمایاں ہوتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• महापूजार्थम्: for the great worship
• महापूजार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-पूजा-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); महत्याः पूजायाः अर्थः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of)

• माल्यादि: garlands and the like
• माल्यादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); ‘माल्यं च अन्यत्’ इत्याद्यर्थे (garlands etc.)

• गुंफनार्थैः: by items meant for stringing/weaving (garlands)
• गुंफनार्थैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुंफन-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); गुंफनस्य अर्थाः/उपकरणानि इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• त्रिकालतः: at the three times (daily thrice)
• त्रिकालतः: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि-कालतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्ययीभाव; त्रिषु कालेषु इति (at the three times—morning/noon/evening)

• शंखभेरीमृदंगादिवाद्यनादैः: by the sounds of instruments such as conch, kettle-drum, mṛdaṅga, etc.
• शंखभेरीमृदंगादिवाद्यनादैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख-भेरी-मृदंग-आदि-वाद्य-नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); शंखभेरीमृदंगादीनां वाद्यानां नादाः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nested); आदि-समासान्त

• शिवालये: in the temple of Śiva
• शिवालये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवालय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular); शिवस्य आलयः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Śiva-ālaya network)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A grand Śiva-temple in Kāśī at the three daily worship times: garland-makers string fresh flowers; priests conduct mahāpūjā; musicians blow conch and beat bherī and mṛdaṅga; the sanctum glows while devotees fill the mandapa.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Śiva
• śivālaya (Śiva temple)
• śaṅkha
• bherī
• mṛdaṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Regular, time-bound worship and beautification—supported by sacred sound—constitute elevated service in Śiva’s holy domain.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Śiva’s temples in Kāśī, highlighting their tri-kāla worship and ceremonial soundscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tri-kāla garland preparation for mahā-pūjā and the use of conch and drums as part of temple rites.