Avanti Khanda is the largest single khanda of the Skanda Purana, built around the sanctity of Ujjayini (Avanti) and the river Narmada. It opens with the Avanti-kshetra-mahatmya, an extended glorification of Ujjayini's own tirthas and the great Mahakaleshvara jyotirlinga, woven through with local legends — Brahma's severed head, the churning of the ocean, and the deeds of kings and sages who found liberation at its waters. The 84-Linga Mahatmya follows with a fixed cycle of eighty-four Shiva-lingas established in and around Mahakalavana, each chapter recounting the specific story — of a king, a sage, a repentant sinner, or a god — that gave that linga its name. The khanda's vast final movement, Reva Khanda, turns to the river Narmada herself: her birth from Shiva's own tapas-sweat, her many names and the kalpas in which she has never perished, and then an immense tirtha-by-tirtha pilgrimage along her banks — the churning of the ocean of poison, Parashurama's slaying of Kartavirya Arjuna, the founding of Bhrigukachchha (Bharuch), and Markandeya's own vision of cosmic dissolution — closing with a full roll-call of Reva Khanda's own tirthas and the merit of hearing this book. A short appended text, the Satyanarayana-vrata-katha, closes the khanda with the popular tale of the vow to Satyanarayana and its four generations of tested devotees.
Chapters
1The Glory of Mahakala-vana42 v2The Severing of Brahma's Head76 v3Brahma's Penance62 v4The Origin of Vaishvanara100 v5The Coming of the Gods72 v6The Casting Down of the Skull124 v7The Rule for Dwelling in Mahakalavana80 v8The Glory of the Apsaras Pool81 v9The Glory of Mahisha-kunda and Rudra's Lake26 v10The Glory of Kutumbikeshvara8 v11The Glory of the Vidyadhara Tirtha14 v12The Glory of Shitala5 v13The Glory of Svargadvara5 v14The Glory of the Four Oceans31 v15The Glory of Shankaraditya19 v16The Power of the Nila-Gandhavati River22 v17The Glory of Dashashvamedha8 v18The Glory of Ekanamsha31 v19The Glory of Harasiddhi17 v20The Pilgrimage of the Fourteen Fords18 v21The Glory of Hanumatkeshvara26 v22The Glory of Rudra's Lake15 v23The Glory of the Pilgrimage to Mahakaleshvara41 v24The Glory of Valmikeshvara38 v25The Glory of Shukreshvara, Bhimeshvara, Gargeshvara, Kameshvara, Chudamani, and Chandishvara9 v26The Glory of the Mandakini Field120 v27The Glory of Ankapada121 v28The Glory of the Somavati Ford102 v29The Account of the Hells37 v30The Glory of the Lamp-Offering at Anarakeshvara106 v31The Glory of Saubhagyeshvara and Other Various Fords89 v32Arjuna's Hymn of Praise, in the Glory of Naraditya91 v33The Glory of Keshavaditya18 v34The Glory of Shaktibheda Tirtha98 v35The Glory of Agastyeshvara15 v36The Glory of Naradipa82 v37The Glory of the Angaraki-Chaturthi Vow54 v38The Account of Andhaka43 v39The Glory of Mahakalavana7 v40The Account of the Name Kanakashringa33 v41The Account of the Reason for the Name Kushasthali32 v42The Account Explaining the Name Avanti46 v43The Account Telling the Name Ujjayini60 v44The Account Telling the Name Padmavati39 v45The Telling of the Glory of Kumudvati33 v46The Telling of the Name Amaravati24 v47The Telling of the Name Vishala46 v48The Telling of the Name Pratikalpa56 v49The Grace over Fever, in the Glory of the Shipra45 v50The Glory of the Shipra48 v51The Account of the Name Amritodbhava56 v52The Telling of the Glory of the Shipra72 v53The Glory of Sundara-kunda and the Pishachamochana Tirtha60 v54The Telling of the Glory of Nilaganga34 v55The Glory of Vindhyavasini and the Vimaloda Tirtha33 v56The Legend of the Kshata-Sangama Tirtha67 v57The Glory of the Gaya Tirtha35 v58The Rite of Shraddha at Gaya59 v59The Sages' Wives Restored at the Gaya Tirtha41 v60The Greatness of Purushottama and the Adhika-Masa Vow62 v61Bathing and Charity at Purushottama in the Adhika-Masa12 v62The Legend of the Gomati-Kunda Tirtha39 v63The Legend of the Vamana-Kunda and the Thousand Names of Vishnu269 v64The Kalabhairava Tirtha and the Bhairavashtaka Hymn27 v65The Glory of the Naga Tirtha33 v66The Glory of the Narasimha Tirtha36 v67The Glory of Kutumbeshvara and the Shivaratri Vow25 v68Devaprayaga and the Akhandeshvara Tirtha35 v69The Glory of Karkaraja Tirtha and the Chaturmasya Vow56 v70The Pilgrimage Index of Devayatra: Tirthas and Lingas of Avanti100 v71The Closing Glory of the Avanti Pilgrimage19 v72The Greatness of Agastyeshvara59 v73The Greatness of Guheshvara48 v74The Greatness of Dhundheshvara36 v75The Greatness of Damarukeshvara43 v76The Greatness of Anadikalpeshvara41 v77The Greatness of Svarnajvaleshvara61 v78The Greatness of Trivishtapeshvara38 v79The Greatness of Kapaleshvara49 v80The Greatness of Svargadvareshvara51 v81The Greatness of Karkotakeshvara24 v82The Greatness of Siddheshvara33 v83The Greatness of Lokapaleshvara33 v84The Greatness of Kameshvara53 v85The Greatness of Kutumbeshvara41 v86The Greatness of Indradyumneshvara29 v87The Greatness of Ishaneshvara34 v88The Greatness of Apsareshvara25 v89The Glory of Kalakaleshvara38 v90The Glory of Nagachandeshvara36 v91The Glory of Pratihareshvara28 v92The Glory of Kukkuteshvara58 v93The Glory of Karkateshvara37 v94The Glory of Meghanadeshvara41 v95The Glory of Mahalayeshvara25 v96The Glory of Mukteshvara72 v97The Glory of Someshvara64 v98The Glory of Anarakeshvara93 v99The Glory of Jateshvara85 v100The Glory of Rameshvara54 v101The Glory of Chyavaneshvara58 v102The Glory of Khandeshvara39 v103The Glory of Pattaneshvara28 v104The Glory of Anandeshvara45 v105The Glory of Kanthadeshvara40 v106The Glory of Indreshvara39 v107The Glory of Markandeyeshvara44 v108The Glory of Shiveshvara53 v109The Glory of Kusumeshvara35 v110The Glory of Akrureshvara48 v111The Glory of Kundeshvara43 v112The Glory of Lumpeshvara41 v113The Glory of Gangeshvara41 v114The Glory of Angareshvara40 v115The Glory of Uttareshvara72 v116The Glory of Trilochaneshvara147 v117The Glory of Vireshvara171 v118The Glory of Nupureshvara30 v119The Glory of Abhayeshvara39 v120The Glory of Prithukeshvara34 v121The Glory of Sthavareshvara43 v122The Glory of Shuleshvara38 v123The Glory of Omkareshvara37 v124The Glory of Vishveshvara46 v125The Glory of Kanteshvara57 v126The Glory of Simheshvara36 v127The Glory of Revanteshvara38 v128The Glory of Ghanteshvara38 v129The Glory of Prayageshvara50 v130The Glory of Siddheshvara56 v131The Glory of Matangeshvara51 v132The Glory of Saubhagyeshvara60 v133The Glory of Rupeshvara51 v134The Glory of Dhanuh-sahasreshvara52 v135The Glory of Pashupatishvara44 v136The Glory of Brahmeshvara39 v137The Glory of Jalpeshvara52 v138The Glory of Kedareshvara56 v139The Glory of Pishacheshvara61 v140The Glory of Sangameshvara63 v141The Glory of Durddharsheshvara60 v142The Glory of Prayageshvara84 v143The Glory of Chandradityeshvara63 v144The Glory of Karabheshvara62 v145The Glory of Rajasthaleshvara65 v146The Glory of Vadaleshvara58 v147The Glory of Aruneshvara48 v148The Glory of Pushpadanteshvara68 v149The Glory of Avimukteshvara64 v150The Glory of Hanumatkeshvara53 v151The Glory of Svapneshvara64 v152The Glory of the Four Lingas: Pingaleshvara97 v153The Glory of Kayavarohana63 v154The Glory of Bilveshvara83 v155The Glory of Uttareshvara60 v156Description of the Collection of Puranas54 v157Description of the Glory of Reva59 v158Markandeya's Account of Boarding the Raft at the Dissolution of the Kalpa, in the Dialogue Between Markandeya and Dharmaraja41 v159Description of Narmada's Fifteen Names54 v160The Origin of Narmada and the Naming of the River52 v161The Origin in the Mayura Kalpa and the Causes Behind Reva's Names45 v162The Origin in the Kurma (Tortoise) Kalpa27 v163The Origin in the Baka (Crane) Kalpa55 v164The Origin of Narmada and the Fruits of Bathing in Her55 v165Narration of the Fruits of Bathing in Narmada, as Heard from Tradition73 v166Description of the Glory of Sri Narmada94 v167Narration of the Hymn to Narmada18 v168Description of the Tales of the Twenty-One Kalpas47 v169Description of the World's Destruction Wrought by Kalaratri, in the Continuing Account of the Kalpas66 v170Description of the Onset of Creation's Destruction41 v171Description of Brahma's Hymn of Praise to Shiva24 v172Description of the World's Destruction in the Form of the Twelve Adityas37 v173Description of the Greatness of the Narmada13 v174Account of the Varaha Kalpa61 v175Account of the Varaha Kalpa (continued)83 v176Origin of the River Kapila78 v177Origin of the Vishalya36 v178Greatness of the Confluence of the Vishalya15 v179Greatness of the Confluence of the Kara and Narmada3 v180Greatness of the Confluence of the Nilaganga3 v181Greatness and Rules of the Madhuka-Tritiya Vrata169 v182Description of the Agitation of Tripura13 v183Greatness of Jvaleshvara and Amareshvara Tirthas in the Destruction of Tripura142 v184Greatness of the Confluence of the Kaveri48 v185Greatness of Daru Tirtha10 v186Greatness of Brahmavarta Tirtha10 v187Greatness of Patreshvara Tirtha25 v188Greatness of Agni Tirtha46 v189Description of Ravi Tirtha24 v190The Glory of Meghanada Tirtha31 v191The Glory of Daruka Tirtha19 v192The Glory of Deva Tirtha22 v193The Glory of Narmadeshvara Tirtha (the Pine Forest Episode)77 v194The Glory of Kapila Tirtha38 v195The Glory of Karanjeshvara Tirtha26 v196The Glory of Kundaleshvara Tirtha29 v197The Glory of Pippalada Tirtha74 v198The Glory of Vimaleshvara Tirtha32 v199The Praise of Shulabheda33 v200The Granting of the Boon to Andhaka38 v201The Abduction of Shachi37 v202The Gods Go Forth Seeking Aid21 v203The Slaying of Andhaka and the Granting of His Boon89 v204The Glory of the Origin of Shulabheda48 v205The Examination of Worthy and Unworthy Recipients and the Rules of Giving46 v206The Praise of the Law of Giving at Shulabheda62 v207The Story of Rikshashringa17 v208Rikshashringa's Ascent to Heaven49 v209Dirghatapas's Ascent to Heaven73 v210The Liberation of the King of Kashi at Shulabheda40 v211The Hunter's Teaching and the Fruits of Gifts134 v212The Hunter's Ascent to Heaven31 v213The Greatness of the Tirtha of Shulabheda24 v214The Glory of the Sun-Tirtha at Pushkarini14 v215The Glory of Adityeshvara Tirtha86 v216The Glory of Shakreshvara Tirtha10 v217The Glory of Karodishvara Tirtha23 v218The Glory of Kumareshvara Tirtha9 v219The Glory of Agastyeshvara Tirtha4 v220The Glory of Anandeshvara Tirtha11 v221The Glory of Matritirtha9 v222The Glory of Lunkeshvara Tirtha109 v223The Glory of Dhanada Tirtha11 v224The Glory of Mangaleshvara Tirtha16 v225The Glory of Ravi Tirtha4 v226The Glory of Kameshvara Tirtha4 v227The Glory of Maninageshvara Tirtha65 v228The Glory of Gopreksheshvara23 v229The Glory of Gautameshvara Tirtha6 v230The Glory of Shankhachuda Tirtha5 v231The Glory of Pareshvara Tirtha24 v232The Glory of Bhimeshvara Tirtha7 v233The Glory of Naradeshvara Tirtha32 v234The Glory of Dadhiskanda and Madhuskanda7 v235The Glory of Nandikeshvara Tirtha11 v236The Glory of Varuneshvara Tirtha8 v237The Glory of the Fivefold Tirtha beginning with Dadhiskanda15 v238The Glory of Hanumanteshvara Tirtha118 v239The Glory of Kapitirtha, Rameshvara, Lakshmaneshvara and Kumbheshvara50 v240The Glory of Somanatha Tirtha99 v241The Greatness of Pingaleshvara15 v242The Greatness of Rinamochana (Release from the Three Debts)5 v243The Greatness of Kapileshvara7 v244The Greatness of Putikeshvara5 v245The Greatness of Jalashayi (Chakra-tirtha)116 v246The Greatness of Chandaditya9 v247The Greatness of Yamahasya (Yama's Laughter)30 v248The Greatness of Kalhodi Tirtha10 v249The Greatness of Nandikeshvara4 v250The Greatness of Narayani (Badarikashrama)27 v251The Greatness of Koteshvara6 v252The Greatness of Vyasa-tirtha185 v253The Greatness of Prabhasa35 v254The Greatness of Nageshvara21 v255The Greatness of Markandeshvara9 v256The Greatness of Sankarshana6 v257The Greatness of Manmatheshvara12 v258The Greatness of Erandi-sangama Tirtha210 v259The Greatness of Suvarnashila Tirtha8 v260The Greatness of Karanja Tirtha3 v261The Greatness of Kamada Tirtha19 v262The Greatness of Bhandari Tirtha3 v263The Greatness of Rohini-Somanath Tirtha22 v264The Greatness of Chakra Tirtha at Senapura17 v265The Greatness of Dhautapapa Tirtha5 v266The Greatness of Skanda Tirtha44 v267The Greatness of Angirasa Tirtha11 v268The Greatness of Koti Tirtha3 v269The Greatness of Ayonisambhava Tirtha3 v270The Greatness of Angaraka Tirtha11 v271The Greatness of Pandu Tirtha3 v272The Greatness of Trilochana Tirtha3 v273The Greatness of Indra Tirtha41 v274The Greatness of Kahlodi Tirtha13 v275The Greatness of Kambukeshvara Tirtha25 v276The Greatness of Soma Tirtha and Chandrahasa26 v277The Greatness of Kohana Tirtha38 v278The Greatness of Karmadeshvara Tirtha3 v279The Greatness of Narmadeshvara Tirtha2 v280The Greatness of Ravi Tirtha44 v281The Greatness of Ayoniprabhava Tirtha16 v282The Greatness of Agni Tirtha4 v283The Greatness of Bhrikuteshvara Tirtha8 v284The Greatness of Brahma Tirtha15 v285The Greatness of Deva Tirtha2 v286The Greatness of Nageshvara Tirtha36 v287The Greatness of Adivaraha Tirtha13 v288The Greatness of the Four Tirthas Beginning with Kubera48 v289The Greatness of Rameshvara Tirtha2 v290The Greatness of Siddheshvara Tirtha5 v291The Greatness of Ahalyeshvara Tirtha24 v292The Greatness of Karkateshvara Tirtha8 v293The Greatness of Shakra Tirtha10 v294The Greatness of Soma Tirtha13 v295The Greatness of Nanda-hrada Tirtha11 v296The Greatness of Tapeshvara Tirtha11 v297The Greatness of Rukmini Tirtha101 v298The Greatness of Yojaneshvara Tirtha17 v299The Greatness of Dvadashi Tirtha3 v300The Greatness of Shiva Tirtha3 v301The Greatness of Asmahaka Tirtha117 v302The Greatness of Siddheshvara Tirtha5 v303The Greatness of Mangaleshvara (Angaraka) Tirtha26 v304The Greatness of Linga-Varaha Tirtha22 v305The Greatness of Kusumeshvara Tirtha51 v306The Greatness of Shveta-Varaha Tirtha28 v307The Greatness of Bhargaleshvara Tirtha3 v308The Greatness of Ravi Tirtha (Adityeshvara)43 v309The Greatness of Kalakaleshvara Tirtha9 v310The Attainment of King Chanakya119 v311The Greatness of Shukla-tirtha44 v312The Greatness of Hunkara-svami Tirtha15 v313The Greatness of Sangameshvara Tirtha21 v314The Greatness of Anarakeshvara Tirtha102 v315The Greatness of Moksha Tirtha9 v316The Greatness of Sarpa Tirtha11 v317The Greatness of Gopeshvara Tirtha5 v318The Greatness of Naga Tirtha4 v319The Greatness of Samvaureshvara Tirtha13 v320The Greatness of Siddheshvara Tirtha7 v321The Greatness of Siddheshvari Devi8 v322The Greatness of Markandeshvara Tirtha31 v323The Greatness of Ankureshvara Tirtha43 v324The Abduction of Kamapramodini37 v325The Impalement of Mandavya26 v326Mandavya's Ordeal and Shandili's Dialogue with the Sages60 v327The Glory of Mandavya Tirtha90 v328The Glory of Shuddheshvara Tirtha, Where Shiva Was Freed of Brahmahatya15 v329The Glory of Gopeshvara Tirtha11 v330The Glory of Kapileshvara Tirtha19 v331The Glory of Pingaleshvara Tirtha and the Origin of Devakhata33 v332The Glory of Bhutishvara Tirtha and the Five Sacred Baths18 v333The Glory of Gangavahaka Tirtha35 v334The Glory of Gautameshvara Tirtha16 v335The Glory of Dashashvamedha Tirtha80 v336The Origin of Bhrigukachchha and the Hymn of Bhrigu65 v337The Glory of Bhrigukachchha Tirtha65 v338The Glory of Kedareshvara Tirtha17 v339The Glory of Dhautapapa Tirtha, Where Brahmin-Slaying Cannot Enter31 v340The Glory of Erandi Tirtha3 v341The Glory of Kanakhaleshvara Tirtha40 v342The Glory of Kalagnirudra Tirtha9 v343The Glory of Shalagrama Tirtha13 v344The Glory of Udirna Varaha Tirtha42 v345The Glory of Chandrahasya Tirtha33 v346The Glory of Dvadashaditya Tirtha24 v347The Origin of Shripati95 v348The Glory of Shripati71 v349The Marriage of Shripati80 v350The Greatness of Deva Tirtha41 v351The Glory of Hansa Tirtha6 v352The Glory of Mulasthana Tirtha11 v353The Glory of Shuleshvara Tirtha117 v354The Glory of Ashvin Tirtha14 v355The Glory of Savitri Tirtha27 v356The Glory of Deva Tirtha4 v357The Glory of Shikhi Tirtha7 v358The Glory of Koti Tirtha6 v359The Glory of Paitamaha Tirtha16 v360The Greatness of Kurkuri Tirtha5 v361The Greatness of Dashakanya Tirtha10 v362The Greatness of Suvarnabindu Tirtha9 v363The Greatness of Rinamochana Tirtha9 v364The Greatness of Bharabhuti Tirtha186 v365The Greatness of Punkhila Tirtha8 v366The Greatness of Mundi Tirtha22 v367The Greatness of Ekashala-Dindimeshvara Tirtha10 v368The Greatness of Amaleshvara Tirtha6 v369The Greatness of Shri Kapala Tirtha18 v370The Greatness of Shringi Tirtha2 v371The Greatness of Ashadhi Tirtha3 v372The Greatness of Erandi Tirtha3 v373The Greatness of Jamadagnya Tirtha57 v374The Greatness of Koti Tirtha6 v375The Greatness of Lotaneshvara Tirtha55 v376The Greatness of Hamseshvara Tirtha27 v377The Greatness of Tiladeshvara Tirtha16 v378The Greatness of Vasaveshvara Tirtha11 v379The Greatness of Kotishvara Tirtha12 v380The Greatness of Alikeshvara Tirtha at the Reva-Sagara Confluence22 v381The Greatness of Vimaleshvara Tirtha23 v382The Special Rules for Pilgrimage and Related Procedures67 v383The Fruit of Pilgrimage Undertaken on Another's Behalf18 v384The Fruit of Reading, Hearing, and Gifting the Reva Khanda, in the Dialogue of Markandeya and Yudhishthira28 v385The Recitation of the Roll of Tirthas113 v386The Enumeration of the Number of Tirthas54 v387The Completion of the Reva Khanda: The Greatness of Gifting the Book of the Reva Khanda55 v388The Origin of the Satyanarayana Vrata24 v389The Poor Brahmin's Vow27 v390The Merchant Sadhu and King Ulkamukha51 v391The Test of the Ascetic and the Merchant's Redemption44 v392King Tungadhvaja and the Fruits of the Vow24 v
Why it matters today
Ujjain's Mahakaleshvara Temple remains one of the twelve jyotirlingas and one of India's most-visited Shiva pilgrimage sites (host to the Simhastha Kumbh Mela), while the Narmada parikrama — a circumambulation of the entire river praised at length in this khanda's Reva Khanda — remains among the most arduous and revered pilgrimages still undertaken in living Hindu practice today, giving this khanda's geography an unbroken devotional life outside the text itself.