Skanda Purana: illustrated cover of the Vedapath edition
Skanda Purana: illustrated cover of the Vedapath edition
MahapuranaPilgrimageTirtha Mahatmya

Skanda Purana in Chinese

स्कन्दपुराण

The Largest Mahapurana

The most extensive of the eighteen Mahapuranas: a vast compendium of sacred geography, tirtha mahatmya, pilgrimage lore, and devotional narratives spanning the length and breadth of Bharatavarsha.

Start Reading

About This Book

The Skanda Purana is the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, traditionally attributed to Vyasa and narrated by Skanda (Kartikeya) to the sages. With 92,067 verses organized across seven Khandas and twenty-six Sections, it is an encyclopedic guide to India's sacred landscape, celebrating tirthas, temples, rivers, and mountains from Kedarnath to Rameswaram, from Kashi to Somnath.

How This Book Is Organised

The Skanda Purana is structured across seven Khandas, each containing multiple Sections.

Khandas

Seven major divisions

→

Sections

26 thematic sections

→

Adhyayas

1,731 chapters

→

Shlokas

92,067 verses

Available Reading Features

Sanskrit

Original Sanskrit verses (Devanagari)

Transliteration

Transliteration for guided reading

Meanings

Word-by-word meanings

Translations

Clear, faithful translations

Enrichment

Tirtha mahatmya, pilgrimage context, and sacred geography

Khandas of the Skanda Purana

The Skanda Purana is traditionally divided into seven Khandas.
Each Khanda celebrates the sacred geography of a distinct region of Bharatavarsha.

Skanda Purana - Maheshvara Khanda

Maheshvara Khanda

The Section of Mahesvara (Shiva)

在规模宏大的《Skanda Purana》(传统上被计入八万一千颂的普拉那总汇)之中,《Māheśvara Khaṇḍa》作为以湿婆(Śiva)为中心的神学与仪轨—伦理框架而展开。其叙事常由赞颂(stuti)与宇宙论的示例起步,继而转入以圣地为核心的神圣性阐释(tīrtha 与 sthala-māhātmya),并以对话体裁将教义镶嵌在易于铭记的故事段落中。 本卷的哲学重点在于凸显湿婆为至上本原(parama-tattva)。

ShivaKedaraArunachala
Skanda Purana - Vaishnava Khanda

Vaishnava Khanda

The Section of Vishnu

《圣童往世书》(Skanda Purāṇa)中的《毗湿奴部》(Vaiṣṇava Khaṇḍa)是一部以毗湿奴(Viṣṇu)为中心的神学与朝圣文献汇编,将圣地地理呈现为奉爱(bhakti)、法(dharma)与救度性记忆在现实生活中的延伸。在更宏阔的《圣童往世书》传统之中,本部特别强调与毗湿奴相关的圣域(kṣetra)、圣渡(tīrtha)、神像形制与象征体系,并细致铺陈礼仪次第,使信众在行旅与礼敬中亲近神圣。

VishnuPurushottamaAvatara
Skanda Purana - Brahma Khanda

Brahma Khanda

The Section of Brahma

在《Skanda Purāṇa》宏阔的百科式结构中(传统上归入八万一千颂的普拉那文库),《Brahma Khaṇḍa》如同教义与叙事的门径。它以梵天(Brahmā)为取向,从宇宙生成与法(dharma)的辨析入手,为后续的圣地功德(tīrtha-māhātmya)篇章奠定理解框架。 本卷反复贯通经典规范(śāstra)的实践路径:以赎罪与补过(prāyaścitta)、誓戒与斋行(vrata)、礼拜供奉(pūjā)以及布施(dāna)作为修复道德裂隙、重建内在秩序的工具。它强调这些仪轨并非外在形式,而是净化心行、端正行为、回归正法的训练。

BrahmaSetubandhaDharmaranya
Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda

Kashi Khanda

The Section on Kashi (Varanasi)

《司建陀往世书》之《迦尸篇》(Kāśī Khaṇḍa)以连贯而深长的神学论述,阐明迦尸(瓦拉纳西)作为典范圣地之意义:在此,仪式行持、伦理自律与趋向解脱(mokṣa)的形上学相互汇合。全篇依托往世书叙事与朝圣赞颂(tīrtha-māhātmya)的结构,将迦尸呈现为不仅是一座城市,更是一片被神圣化的意义之域。 通过传说、对话与依地而起的赞歌,文本强调湿婆信爱(Śaiva bhakti)、真言(mantra)的权威与供奉礼拜(pūjā)的核心地位。解脱的许诺被描绘为与湿婆亲近所显现的恩德与果报,要求信众以清净、正行与对圣所的恭敬来承接。

KashiVaranasiMoksha
Skanda Purana - Avantya Khanda

Avantya Khanda

The Section on Avanti (Ujjain)

《往世书·室建陀往世书》的《Avantīkhaṇḍa(阿凡提篇)》是一部兼具地域性与神学性的汇编,将阿凡提(以优阇因尼/Avantī为中心)描绘为神圣地景:朝圣(tīrtha-yātrā)、仪轨实践与教义训导在此汇聚。 在往世书的整体结构中,本篇融合了tīrtha-māhātmya(圣地功德与赞颂)、phalaśruti(听闻或诵读所获之果报)以及示范性的对话叙事,用以为信众与行旅者确立伦理规范与修行方向。由此,行走于地理空间,也是在接受法义的引导。

AvantiUjjainMahakaleshwar
Skanda Purana - Nagara Khanda

Nagara Khanda

The Section on Nagara

《那伽罗劫部》(Nāgarakhaṇḍa)在《室建陀往世书》(Skanda Purāṇa)的宏大体系中,犹如一幅“圣地地图”。它以地点叙事为纲(sthāla/tīrtha-māhātmya,圣境/渡口之胜德),把教义的阐发安置在具体的山川城邑与灵迹之中,将祭仪生活、王权秩序与湿婆信仰(Śaiva)贯通起来,使“法”(dharma)在地理与历史中可被体认。 在传统所称《室建陀往世书》浩瀚规模(常言八万一千颂)之内,本劫部尤能体现往世书教诲“寓于地”。

NagaraGujaratHatkeshwar
Skanda Purana - Prabhasa Khanda

Prabhasa Khanda

The Section on Prabhasa

Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa 在《Skanda Purāṇa》宏大汇编中,具有“圣地地理”(tīrtha-māhātmya)与神学图谱的性质,传统上与八万一千颂的规模相联系。它以朝圣路线与圣境分布为骨架,融汇河流与神庙的起源传说、圣地(kṣetra)的由来,以及将地方空间纳入泛印度宇宙论的教义省思。 本篇常以问答与叙事对话展开:从某一地名的缘起、某一河岸或海滨的圣迹,逐步引出关于创造(sṛṣṭi)、毁灭与回归(pralaya)、以及诸神层级与神圣秩序的阐释。由此,地方性的朝圣实践被提升为通向普遍真理的入口。

PrabhasaSomnathDvaraka

Key episodes

  1. Arunachala: The Hill That Is a Pillar of Fire

    Mahesvara Khanda, Arunachala Mahatmya and Arunachala Mahatmya (Uttarardha)

    With Sanaka, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

  2. Srinivasa and Padmavati (Venkateswara's Wedding)

    Vishnu Khanda, Venkatachala Mahatmya, adhyayas 3-8

    With Akasharaja, Dharani, Padmavati, Srinivasa, Narada, Bakulamalika and Varaha

  3. King Indradyumna and the Image of Jagannath

    Vishnu Khanda, Purushottama Jagannatha Mahatmya, adhyayas 7-19

    With Indradyumna, Vidyapati, Nilamadhava, Narada and Jaimini

Tirthas of the Skanda Purana

  • Arunachala / ArunagiriAruṇācala / Aruṇagiri (Tiruvaṇṇāmalai)

    Mahesvara Khanda

  • Ayodhya-kshetraAyodhyā-kṣetra (Sāketa/Ayodhyā as paradigmatic Vaiṣṇava kṣetra)

    Vishnu Khanda

  • GokarnaGokarṇa (Gokarṇa-kṣetra / Mahābaleśvara-liṅga sphere; as the core Śaiva locus)

    Brahma Khanda

  • Kashi (Varanasi) as Avimukta-kshetraKāśī (Vārāṇasī) as Avimukta-kṣetra

    Kashi Khanda

  • Avanti-kshetraAvantī-kṣetra (Ujjayinī / Ujjain)

    Avanti Khanda

  • Chamatkarapura pilgrimage nodeCamatkārapura pilgrimage node

    Nagara Khanda

  • Vastrapatha-kshetraVastrāpatha-kṣetra

    Prabhasa Khanda

  • ArunachaleshvaraAruṇācaleśvara (liṅga-presence associated with the mountain)

    Mahesvara Khanda

  • Sarayu-nadiSarayū-nadī (Ayodhyā riverfront tīrtha-field)

    Vishnu Khanda

  • Vishveshvara / VishvanathaViśveśvara / Viśvanātha (central liṅga complex)

    Kashi Khanda

  • Ujjayini sacred circuitUjjayinī sacred circuit (kṣetra-parikramā)

    Avanti Khanda

  • Hatakeshvara / Achaleshvara Shiva-linga siteHaṭakeśvara / Acaleśvara Śiva-liṅga site

    Nagara Khanda

  • Raivatakamountain tīrtha

    Prabhasa Khanda

  • Tejas-stambha / Agni-stambha paradigm localized at ArunachalaTejas-stambha / Agni-stambha paradigm localized at Aruṇācala (pillar-of-light theology)

    Mahesvara Khanda

  • Ayodhya-ghata circuitsAyodhyā-ghāṭa circuits (riverbank bathing and darśana sequence nodes)

    Vishnu Khanda

  • Ganga in KashiGaṅgā in Kāśī (ghāṭa-centered tīrtha network)

    Kashi Khanda

  • Surya-associated tirthas within AvantiSūrya-associated tīrthas within Avanti (solar worship nodes)

    Avanti Khanda

  • SuvarnarekhaSuvarṇarekhā (river/stream tīrtha)

    Prabhasa Khanda

  • GiripradakshinaGiripradakṣiṇā (circumambulation circuit around Aruṇācala as a tīrtha-practice)

    Mahesvara Khanda

  • Suryavamsha-smriti-sthanasSūryavaṃśa-smṛti-sthānas (Solar Dynasty memorial-sacred nodes within Ayodhyā’s landscape)

    Vishnu Khanda

  • ManikarnikaMaṇikarṇikā (cremation and liberation locus)

    Kashi Khanda

  • Shiva-adjacent and Vaishnava-adjacent shrines integrated into the Avanti mapŚiva-adjacent and Vaiṣṇava-adjacent shrines integrated into the Avanti map

    Avanti Khanda

  • PrabhasaPrabhāsa (as the khanda’s overarching sacred field)

    Prabhasa Khanda

  • Rama-smriti-sthanasRāma-smṛti-sthānas (Rāma-centered devotional nodes integrated into pilgrimage movement)

    Vishnu Khanda

  • DashashvamedhaDaśāśvamedha (major ghāṭa and ritual hub)

    Kashi Khanda

  • Named bathing-ghatas and sanctified waters tied to phalashruti recitationsNamed bathing-ghāṭas and sanctified waters tied to phalaśruti recitations

    Avanti Khanda

  • AnnapurnaAnnapūrṇā (food-giving Śakti within Kāśī’s Śaiva frame)

    Kashi Khanda

  • KalabhairavaKālabhairava (kṣetrapāla/guardian of Kāśī)

    Kashi Khanda

  • Panchakroshi-yatra circuitPañcakrośī-yātrā circuit (circumambulatory sacred route)

    Kashi Khanda

  • Narmada tirtha-regionNarmadā tīrtha-region (introductory excursus)

    Kashi Khanda

  • Vindhya range tirthasVindhya range tīrthas (introductory excursus)

    Kashi Khanda

Ask anything about Skanda Purana

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Skanda Purana in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Vedapath Gold

Reading stays free, with or without Gold. It is for when you would rather listen: Sanskrit recitation and a spoken translation in 10 languages across the library, on this site and in the app, plus weekly Mudras for your questions and every comic and video episode open.

See what Gold opens