O best of men, listen to the greatness of Hara-siddhi as revealed in the sacred Skanda Purana. Whoever beholds the goddess Hara-siddhi with supreme devotion, beholds the primal, accomplished one—the great, eternal goddess whose very form is space itself. If one remembers the four-syllable mantra “Hara-siddhi,” or worships her on the auspicious day of the great Navami, such a person is truly blessed. On Navami, the goddess Hara-siddhi, beloved of Lord Hara, bestows happiness everywhere. She is holy and pure, and her worship brings joy to all. It is on this great Navami, O Vyasa, that buffalo-demons and other such foes are vanquished. Thus concludes the nineteenth chapter of the Avanti section, which extols the greatness of Hara-siddhi. Now hear further of the merits granted by worship. If one offers worship with golden flowers, the fruits of his accomplishment are never diminished. The glory of Vatayakshini also ends thus: whoever gives sesame with devotion is never born as a demon. Indeed, whatever is given, when dedicated sincerely, becomes imperishable. Even bathing in the goddess’s name frees a man from demonhood, granting him eternal liberation, so that in his lineage none are born as ghosts. Freed from all sins, just as a serpent sheds its old skin, he leaves behind Yama’s abode and attains the world of Rudra. Such a devotee receives the merit of performing an Ashvamedha sacrifice, without any doubt, O Vyasa. The god here is known as Damarukeshvara. He who worships thus is unafraid of disease, and, when his life ends, goes to the city of Shiva. He attains a kingdom and heaven, as Indra did, and enjoys delight for a hundred crore aeons. Even in this world, he finds success and victory everywhere. Worshipping the god with gold, he is freed from all sins, has no fear of serpents, and never faces poverty. Released from the illusion of Vishnu, he attains the supreme state. Even the gravest sins, such as slaying a Brahmin, cannot bind him. By beholding that god, one gains the fruit of a hundred sacrifices. Thus ends the twentieth chapter, describing the pilgrimage to the fourteen holy places in the Avanti region. Now, O listener, hear of another sacred place: Hanumatkeshvara, which bestows both enjoyment and liberation. Whoever bathes in the Shaiva lake and beholds Hanumatkeshvara is blessed indeed. Let me recount the ancient tale of this holy site. Long ago, in Lanka, Vishnu—in the form of Rama—struck down the wicked one, and, having slain him, took back Sita, the daughter of Janaka. There, having regained the kingdom and surrounded by sages, Rama inquired about the prowess of two great beings: Shambhu and the Wind-born. It was said that Maheśvara, the great god, is unmatched in valor on the battlefield. Hearing this, Hanuman declared, “Among monkeys, I am his equal.” Hanuman then resolved, “I will go to the city of Lanka to request a liṅga.” Having journeyed to Lanka, Hanuman spoke to Vibhishana, king of the Rakshasas. Vibhishana replied, “Take this as you wish. Before the conquest of the three worlds, my noble brother gave this liṅga to me; I now give it to you today, O monkey—this is the truth.” Thus are the glories and sacred stories of these holy places in Avanti revealed, bringing blessings to those who hear and remember them.