In times of great suffering—when the planets bring severe afflictions, when poverty strikes, or when terrible distress befalls a person—those noble souls who steadfastly perform worship within the sacred enclosure of the field find solace and relief. For such devoted men, the blessings are manifold: the childless receive sons, the poor attain wealth, and their lineages become endless. Not only do they prosper on earth, but they are also honored in the realm of Śiva. The greatness of the Avanti tīrtha, this holy pilgrimage site, is pure and fully in accord with the teachings of the Vedas. Hearing of its sanctity, a seeker once asked, “O best among knowers of Brahman, tell me—how many tīrthas exist here, O virtuous one? Describe to me the dialogue between Umā and Maheśvara, and also the wise words of Nārada. Please recount in detail all the tīrthas that are present.” In response, it was explained, “Long ago, Nārada himself questioned me thus, O brāhmaṇa, and now I shall tell you, O virtuous one, about the tīrthas that exist. Beginning with Puṣkara, and including every other holy site upon the earth, their numbers are beyond counting—thousands upon thousands, hundreds of millions. On the mountains, the Kinnaras shower down tiny drops like mist, and so too are the tīrthas innumerable. Truly, I do not know their full number. Yet still, I shall tell you the principal ones, and the essential observances required. These are the well-known rites that must be performed, O subduer of foes. Whoever observes them properly becomes, in merit and spirit, like Śambhu himself. The fruit of such observance is swiftly gained—within just five days at the end of the month of Vaiśākha. One should especially bathe in Avantī during the month of Mādhava. By bathing at this holy place according to the prescribed rules, and by keeping the annual vow, one is purified. Such a person enjoys abundant pleasures and is honored in Śiva’s world. This greatness increases devotion to Śiva, brings lasting fame, and augments one’s store of merit.” Thus concludes the seventieth chapter, named “The Description of the Greatness of Avantīkshetra,” as told in the dialogue between Vyāsa and Sanatkumāra, within the Avantī section of the fifth book of the vast Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. With reverence, the next inquiry begins: “Salutations to Śrī Gaṇeśa. Kindly tell me, in detail, the places where śrāddha—the sacred rites for ancestors—should be performed. Which are those sites that have been frequented by gods, gandharvas, and sages?” The answer unfolds: “The goddess Yamunā, daughter of the Sun, is the purifier of the worlds. So too are the sacred rivers Candrabhāgā, Vitastā, and Narmadā at Amarakantaka. There is Kedāra and Puṣkara, and also Kāyāvarohaṇa. In this field abides Śrī Mahākāla, the fire that consumes the wealth of sin. This holy region grants both enjoyment and liberation, and it destroys the sins of the Kali age. All sacred fords that are venerable, every liṅga that is established—know that the foremost of all fields, O great goddess, is especially dear to me. There exists a supremely meritorious place here, which removes all sins. Among the celebrated rivers, the Nīlagaṅgā is the fourth and foremost. O Goddess, it bestows three times the merit of the Gaṅgā and grants the fruits of all four aims of life: dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa. Here stand the perfected liṅgas, bestowers of both worldly enjoyment and ultimate liberation. Eleven Rudras and twelve Ādityas are remembered as abiding here. When I visited this auspicious forest of Mahākāla, I beheld that the entire field, a yojana in extent, is filled with these divine presences. Now, O Goddess, describe in detail those sacred places within this field, for indeed, they are the ones that remove all sins.