Skanda Purana

Skanda Purana is the largest Mahapuran. It can be considered to be the collection of 18 hindu religious texts. They mainly pertain to Lord Karthikeya (Skanda), the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This purana was recited by Sage Vyasa. This also narrates a lot of legends of Shiva and holy places associated with him. This describes “Hemakuta” regions near Vijayanagar. In Kashi Khanda we come across Shaiva tradition around Varanasi. This purana is considered as Tamas purana. In uttarakhanda there is complete “Purushottam Mahatreya”. This purana has seven Khandas

1. Maheshwara Khanda (138 chapters)
1. Kedar Khanda (35 chapters)
2. Kaumarika Khanda (66 chapters)
3. Arunachala Mahima
1. Purvardha (13 chapters)
2. Uttarardha (24 chapters)
2. Vishnu Khanda (Vaishanava Khanda) (221 chapters)
1. Venkatachala Mahatmya (40 chapters)
2. Purushottam Kshetra Mahatmya (49 chapters)
3. Badrikaashram Mahatmya (8 chapters)
4. Kartikmasa Mahtamya (36 chapters)
5. Margashirshamasa Mahtamya (17 chapters)
6. Bhagwat Mahatmya (4 chapters)
7. Vaishakhamasa Mahatmya (25 chapters)
8. Ayodhya Mahima (10 chapters)
9. Vasudeva Mahima (32 chapters)
3. Brahma Khanda (114 chapters)
1. Setu mahatmya (52 chapters)
2. Dharmaranya Khanda (40 chapters)
3. Uttara Khanda or Bramhottara Khanda (22 chapters)
4. Kasi Khanda (100 chapters)
1. Purvardha (50 chapters)
2. Uttarardha (50 chapters)
5. Avantya Khanda (387 chapters)
1. Avantikshetra Mahatmya (71 chapters)
2. Chaturashitilinga Mahatmya (84 chapters)
3. Reva Khanda (232 Chapters)
6. Nagara Khanda (279 chapters)
1. Tirtha mahatmya
7. Prabhasa Khanda (491 chapters)
1. Prabhasakshetra Mahatmya (365 chapters)
2. Vastrapathakshetra Mahatmya (19 chapters)
3. Arvuda Khanda (63 chapters)
4. Dvaraka Mahatmya (44 chapters)

In another form of this purana the division is by Samhitas. According to this division there are six samhitas.

1. Sanatkumar Samhita
2. Suta Samhita
3. Shankari Samhita
4. Vaishnavi Samhita
5. Brahmi Samhita
6. Saura Samhita

Some highlights of this puran are:

1. Churning of ocean and emergence of amrit
2. Pradosha vrat details
3. Demon Tarakasura vadha by Karthikeya
4. Ashtottara namavali and phalasruti of Karthikeya
5. Explanation of “Daan” and its benefits
6. “Shatarudra” details
7. Procedure of “Shiva puja”
8. How “Mahisagara Sangam Kshetra” became “Gupt Kshetra”
9. Eight folded approach to Venkateshwara
10. Details of Setu Teertha
11. Chaaturmas Mahatmya and “Shodashopachar”
12. Details about Shiva Mantra, Shiva Ratri, Shiva Pradosh Vrat and Shiva Kavach
13. Description of celestial worlds
14. Narmada’s origin and Narmada Mahatmya
15. Details about significant Shiva Kshetras
16. Kedar Kshetra and its importance
17. Birth of Vishwamitra and his curse to Saraswati

It will be impossible to summarize all the details into one article. To understand importance of Skanda Purana one has to read himself or herself. Skanda Purana can be found online at following locations

1. www.kamakoti.org
2. www.astrojyoti.com > Scriptures > The puranas
3. www.gita-society.com > Scriptures > All 18 major puranas

In all these sites most of the puranas are available.