Hanumān, filled with devotion, took up the liṅga that shone with the luster of a radiant pearl. As he did so, Vibhīṣaṇa, hearing Hanumān’s words, began to speak. He recounted that, in ancient times, this very liṅga had belonged to the Lord of Wealth. When Rāvaṇa was once bound, it was indeed the Lord of Wealth who, by the grace of this liṅga, attained the position of protector of all riches. On the seventh day, the Lord of Wealth reached the city of Avantikā. There, on the banks of Rudrasaras, he placed the liṅga and performed his ritual bath. When he tried to lift the liṅga once more, he found himself unable to do so. At that moment, the deity manifested and spoke directly to Hanumān, the mighty son of the wind: “Hanumatkeśvara will become renowned throughout the world. Whoever beholds Hanumatkeśvara Śiva, even once, will have no fear of thieves, nor poverty, nor misfortune. All diseases will be destroyed, and he shall not suffer from the afflictions caused by the planets.” The scripture then describes the proper worship of this sacred liṅga. The devotee should anoint it with saffron and offer blue lotuses. Incense of black aloe, as well as sesame seeds and rice grains, are to be presented in reverence. It is said that wherever a person dies, Yama, the god of death, becomes as if equal to the ancestors. The place, known as Rudra’s Lake, is famed throughout the three worlds. After bathing there and purifying oneself, one should behold Koṭīśvara Śiva. If one performs the śrāddha ritual at this sacred spot, the merit attained is multiplied a crore (ten million) times, without doubt. All actions performed there yield a crore-fold reward, and all sins are shed, just as a serpent casts off its skin. To see the god Mahākāla there is to gain the merit of gifting a thousand cows. One attains the fruit of a thousand Cāndrāyaṇa vows. By worshipping with fragrant substances and flowers, after a great purificatory bath, one’s deepest wishes—difficult even for the gods to fulfill—are granted. The offerings are to be made with seasonal fragrances and flowers, and with beautiful garments. These should be ground together on a stone slab, divided into equal portions, and then offered with devotion. Thus, the Skanda Purāṇa extols the glory of the Avanti region, especially in this chapter known as ‘The Greatness of Rudra’s Lake.’ Śivā, the bestower of welfare and holiness, grants merit to all. One who bathes in Rudra’s lake and beholds Koṭīśvara Śiva, then worships the Lord of the gods with fragrances, flowers, and salutations, witnesses a sacred act: there, the Lord of the gods placed the skull upon the ground. This act is known as Kapālamocana, the destroyer of all sins. With even the smallest step, free from any deceit regarding wealth, after bowing, the devotee should proceed to the excellent Kapileśvara. With a focused mind, one should then visit Hanumatkeśvara, the divine Lord. Afterward, the journey continues to Mahādeva, known as Paippalākhya, the eternal one. Endowed with devotion and faith, the pilgrim should then proceed to Svapneśvara, and finally, to Mahādeva Īśāna, the Lord who faces in all directions. Thus, the sacred places and their worship are described, each step conferring immense merit and leading the devotee ever closer to liberation and divine grace.