Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 95
हाटकेशो महाकालस्तारके शस्तथैव च । एकलिंगं त्रिधा भूत्वा त्रिलोकीं व्याप्य संस्थितम्
hāṭakeśo mahākālastārake śastathaiva ca | ekaliṃgaṃ tridhā bhūtvā trilokīṃ vyāpya saṃsthitam
হাটকেশ, মহাকাল এবং তদ্রূপ তারকেশ—একটিই লিঙ্গ ত্রিধা হয়ে ত্রিলোক জুড়ে ব্যাপ্ত হয়ে প্রতিষ্ঠিত।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśī-khaṇḍa discourse, often Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Hāṭakeśa–Mahākāla–Tārakeśa (triad within Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A single radiant liṅga divides into three—Hāṭakeśa, Mahākāla, and Tārakeśa—each enthroned in Kāśī, while a subtle aura expands to fill the three worlds (earth, mid-space, heaven).
FAQs
The one Supreme Śiva can manifest in multiple forms for the welfare of the worlds while remaining essentially one.
The Mahākāla sphere (Avantī/Ujjayinī), highlighting named liṅga-forms present in the kṣetra.
None stated; the verse supports multi-form liṅga worship within the kṣetra.