The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Rishitoya Nadi which is chapter 296 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 two hundred ninety-sixth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 296 - Greatness of Ṛṣitoyā Nadī
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-3. The holy spot named Devakula is within seven Gavyūtis therefrom (i.e. from Indreśvara) in the direction of south-east. It is a concourse where Devas assemble and also where sages and Siddhas gather together. Since this shrine originated when Śiva’s Liṅga was caused to fall by the sages, it is remembered as Devakula.
The great river Ṛṣitoyā is on the western side thereof. O fair lady, she is a great favourite of sages and is destructive of all sins.
4. A man should take his holy bath there and perform the offering of oblations etc. duly to the Pitṛs. It shall cause satisfaction to the Pitṛs for seventy thousand years.
5-6. Gold, antelope skin and a blanket should be gifted there. Whatever is offered during the new-Moon day in the month of Āṣāḍa, increases certainly gradually to sixteen times when full moon arrives.
7. Gold, antelope skin and blanket should be offered there. The pilgrim is rid of all sins even of those sins committed in the course of seven births.