The
largest of all the Puranas, this Puran contains eighty eight thousand and one
hundred Shlokas (stanzas). It is divided into seven parts- Maheshwar, Vaishnava,
Brahma, Kashi, Avanti, Nagar and Prabhasa. Purana got its name from Skand (Kartikeya)
the son of Lord Shiva. Birth of Skand; its reason and effects constitute the
main theme. Kartikeya was the commander of the gods’ army and had killed the
demon Tarkasura.
Maheshwar Khand: Description of Lord Shiva’s glory. Installation of
Shiva linga in Kashi and Avanti (Ujjain). Description of the life and plays of
Lord Vishnu.
Vaishnava Khand: Tales related to Lord Vishnu’s life and plays. His
virtues. Description of holy places of pilgrimage- Purushottam Tirth (Jagannath
Puri), Badrikashrama, Heratkeshwar, Avantika Prabhasa, and Dwarika etc. Benefits
of fasting. Glorious effects of ritual bathing in Kartik, Margasheersh and
Vaishaka months. Description of subjects like knowledge, asceticism, devotion,
moral conduct, cleanliness, Varnashrama (four phases of life), Pativrat
(abidance to the spouse), Yagya, donation, expiation, Shraddh (offering to the
dead ancestors). Description of various places of pilgrimage.