The Glory of Shikhi Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.357.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। तस्यैवानन्तरं चान्यच्छिखितीर्थमनुत्तमम्। प्रधानं सर्वतीर्थानां पञ्चायतनमुत्तमम्

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tasyaivānantaraṁ cānyacchikhitīrthamanuttamam| pradhānaṁ sarvatīrthānāṁ pañcāyatanamuttamam

Markandeya said: Immediately after that lies another unequalled tirtha, Shikhi Tirtha, foremost among all tirthas, an excellent complex of five shrines.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.357.2)

तत्र तीर्थे तपस्तप्त्वा शिखार्थं हव्यवाहनः। शिखां प्राप्य शिखी भूत्वा शिखाख्यं स्थापयञ्छिवम्

tatra tīrthe tapastaptvā śikhārthaṁ havyavāhanaḥ| śikhāṁ prāpya śikhī bhūtvā śikhākhyaṁ sthāpayañchivam

At that tirtha, the fire-god performed austerity for the sake of obtaining a crest of flame, and, having obtained that crest and become 'Shikhin,' the crested one, he installed there Shiva under the name Shikha.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.357.3)

प्रतिपच्छुक्लपक्षे या भवेदाश्वयुजे नृप। तदा तीर्थवरे गत्वा स्नात्वा वै नर्मदाजले

pratipacchuklapakṣe yā bhavedāśvayuje nṛpa| tadā tīrthavare gatvā snātvā vai narmadājale

O king, on the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashvina, going to that excellent tirtha and bathing in the waters of the Narmada—

Verse 4 (skanda.5.357.4)

देवानृषीन् पित्ॄंश्चान्यांस्तर्पयेत्तिलवारिणा। हिरण्यं ब्राह्मणे दद्यात्संतर्प्य च हुताशनम्

devānṛṣīn pitṝṁścānyāṁstarpayettilavāriṇā| hiraṇyaṁ brāhmaṇe dadyātsaṁtarpya ca hutāśanam

one should offer libations, mixed with sesame, to the gods, sages, and ancestors, and, having satisfied the fire-god with offerings, give a gift of gold to a brahmin.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.357.5)

गन्धमाल्यैस्तथा धूपैस्ततः सम्पूजयेच्छिवम्। अनेन विधिनाभ्यर्च्य शिखितीर्थे महेश्वरम्

gandhamālyaistathā dhūpaistataḥ sampūjayecchivam| anena vidhinābhyarcya śikhitīrthe maheśvaram

Then one should worship Shiva with fragrant substances, garlands, and incense. Having worshipped Maheshvara at Shikhi Tirtha in this manner—

Verse 6 (skanda.5.357.6)

विमानेनार्कवर्णेन ह्यप्सरोगणसंवृतः। गीयमानस्तु गन्धर्वैर्रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति

vimānenārkavarṇena hyapsarogaṇasaṁvṛtaḥ| gīyamānastu gandharvairrudralokaṁ sa gacchati

borne in a chariot radiant as the sun, surrounded by hosts of apsaras, celebrated in song by gandharvas, he goes to the realm of Rudra.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.357.7)

शत्रुक्षयमवाप्नोति तेजस्वी जायते भुवि

śatrukṣayamavāpnoti tejasvī jāyate bhuvi

He attains the destruction of his enemies, and is born upon the earth full of splendour.