The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Pushpadhyaya (Chapter on flowers) [Pushpa-adhyaya] of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Puṣpādhyāya (Chapter on flowers) [Puṣpa-adhyāya]
[Note: These verses are extracted from Chapter 17: Procedure of Worship (of the Sun-God).]
Īśvara said:
111. Listen, O goddess, I shall expound the excellent Puṣpādhyāya (Chapter on flowers) [puṣpa-adhyāya]. O goddess, on being worshipped duly, Arkasthala, the Lord, becomes pleased thereby.
112. The Pūjā performed with Mālatī flowers causes the Sānnidhya (proximity to the Lord). If the adoration is through Mallikā flowers, the man becomes an enjoyer of pleasures.
113. Worship with Puṇḍarīka flowers causes conjugal felicity and permanent wealth. Through Kadaṃba flowers, O goddess of Devas, one attains the greatest Aiśvarya (glory, power).
114. If worship of Ravi is performed through Bakula flowers, one acquires everlasting food-grain. Adoration through Mandāra flowers destroys all types of leprosy.
115. Through the flowers and leaves of Bilva, one attains the greatest fortune and wealth. Through a garland made of Arka flowers, one acquires wealth that yields the fulfilment of all cherished desires.
116. On being worshipped with Bakula garland, Lord Bhāskara shall bestow a beautiful daughter. On being adored with Kiṃśuka flowers, he desists from troubling the devotees.
117. On being adored with Agasti flowers the Lord becomes favourable. O goddess of Devas, by adoring with Karavīra flowers, one becomes a follower (servant) of Sūrya.
118. O goddess, through a garland of Śatapatra one attains Sūryasālokyatā (sharing the same world as that of Sūrya). O great goddess, through Baka flowers poverty is ever averted.
119. By worshipping Divākara through the seasonal flowers and scents, one enjoys this earth with the four oceans as its boundary.
120. One who devoutly plasters the shrine of Sūrya with Gairika (red chalk) shall attain great fortune and is rid of ailments.
121. If the shrine is smeared with clay, all the eighteen types of leprosy and many other ailments of men get cured completely.
122. Of all unguents Kuṃkuma and red sandal-paste are the best. Of all flowers, O lady of excellent countenance, Karavīras are the most praiseworthy.
123. Nothing is more pleasing to Bhāsvān than Kuṃkuma (flowers), Jāti, Śatapatra and Agaru.