Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 3
स्कंद उवाच । आकर्णय मुने पूर्वं पंचवक्त्रो हरः स्वयम् । पृथिव्यां पंचधा भूत्वा प्रादुरासीज्जगद्धितः
skaṃda uvāca | ākarṇaya mune pūrvaṃ paṃcavaktro haraḥ svayam | pṛthivyāṃ paṃcadhā bhūtvā prādurāsījjagaddhitaḥ
স্কন্দ বললেন: হে মুনি! পূর্বকথা শোনো। পঞ্চবক্ত্র হর স্বয়ং জগতের মঙ্গলের জন্য পৃথিবীতে পাঁচ রূপে প্রকাশিত হয়েছিলেন।
Skanda
Listener: Muni (addressed as 'mune')
Scene: Skanda narrates: five-faced Hara descends and becomes five forms on earth. Visualize a central pañcavaktra Śiva radiating into five emanations, each taking a distinct stance, blessing the world.
FAQs
Śiva’s manifestations are compassionate interventions—divinity appears in forms suited to protect Dharma and uplift the world.
The verse is thematic rather than locational; within Kāśīkhaṇḍa it supports the sanctity of Śiva-connected sacred places in Kāśī.
None; it introduces a theological narrative about Śiva’s fivefold appearance.