Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 66
सर्वेभ्यो दुष्टसत्त्वेभ्यो यतो रक्षेदहर्निशम् । रक्षत्येषा ततः प्रोक्ता विभूतिर्भूतिकृद्यतः
sarvebhyo duṣṭasattvebhyo yato rakṣedaharniśam | rakṣatyeṣā tataḥ proktā vibhūtirbhūtikṛdyataḥ
Weil sie Tag und Nacht vor allen bösen Wesen schützt und selbst Schutz gewährt, wird sie daher Vibhūti genannt, denn sie verleiht Wohlergehen und glückverheißende Vollendung.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Personified Vibhūti as a pale, radiant protective presence standing beside a devotee, forming a vigilant guard through day and night; shadowy ‘duṣṭa-sattvas’ kept at bay.
FAQs
Sacred ash is not mere symbol; it is a dhārmic safeguard and a sign of Śaiva refuge that yields auspiciousness.
Within Kāśī’s tīrtha-cycle, the teaching supports the wider Piśācamocana-tīrtha narrative by explaining protective means like vibhūti.
Keeping vibhūti upon oneself as continual protection (aharniśam), implying regular application.