by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Installation of Lingas by Kauravas, Pandavas and Yadavas which is chapter 74 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.
Similarly five Liṅgas were installed by all the Pāṇḍavas. Four idols of Gaurī were installed by Draupadī, Kuntī, Gāndhārī and Bhānumatī according to their wish. One Liṅga was installed by each of the following: Vidura, Śalya, Kaliṅga, Yuyutsu, Bāhlīka with his son, Karṇa with his son, Śakuni, Droṇa, Kṛpa and Aśvatthāman severally, Thus the excellent Liṅgas were installed with great devotion along with excellent palaces to house them in.
7-8. Sāttvata, Sāṃba, the intelligent Balabhadra, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and other important Yādavas also installed the Liṅgas. Ten important Liṅgas were installed with devotion by ten sons of Rukmiṇī beginning with Cārudeṣṇa.
9. After installing the Liṅgas thus, all the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas and Yādavas became delighted and contented.
10-13. They stayed there for a long time, made many gifts and rendered the Brāhmaṇas hailing from Camatkārapura wealthy. They gave them cash, excellent elephants, horses of the finest breed, diverse kinds of holy spots and fertile fields including excellent villages, good cows, huge bulls, good garments, plots of lands, places of resort, male and female slaves, servants, and different kinds of gifts. Thereafter all of them bowed (to the elders) repeatedly, took leave of one another and joyously went to their respective places.
14-16. Thus everything has been narrated to you about how a sin-destroying Liṅga was installed by that king Dhṛtarāṣṭra (and others), by the Pāṇḍavas and Yādavas separately arrayed in accordance with their prominence.
A man urged and sanctified by devotion, who worships those Liṅgas well, shall attain all things desired in their minds.