Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 34
काशी रजोपि यन्मूर्ध्नि पतेदप्यनिलाहतम् । चंद्रशेखरतन्मूर्धा भवेच्चंद्रकलांकितः
kāśī rajopi yanmūrdhni patedapyanilāhatam | caṃdraśekharatanmūrdhā bhaveccaṃdrakalāṃkitaḥ
কাশীর ধূলির এক কণাও যদি বায়ুর আঘাতে কারও মস্তকে এসে পড়ে, তবে তার মস্তক চন্দ্রশেখর শিবের ন্যায় চন্দ্রকলায় ভূষিত হয়ে ওঠে।
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (dust of Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrimage-inquirer audience (ṛṣis/śaunaka-lineage typical frame)
Scene: A pilgrim in Kāśī’s narrow lane; a gust lifts golden dust that settles on his head; above, Candraśekhara Śiva is envisioned with the crescent moon, blessing the devotee.
FAQs
Kāśī’s sanctity is so great that even incidental contact with its dust is said to confer Śiva-like auspiciousness.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as a supremely sanctifying kṣetra.
No formal rite; the verse highlights the inherent holiness of Kāśī—contact (even accidental) is meritorious.