Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 67
सारसो लक्ष्मणाकंठे कंठमाधाय निश्चलः । मन्यामहे न निद्रातिध्यायेद्विश्वेश्वरं किल
sāraso lakṣmaṇākaṃṭhe kaṃṭhamādhāya niścalaḥ | manyāmahe na nidrātidhyāyedviśveśvaraṃ kila
A crane, resting its neck upon Lakṣmaṇā’s neck, stands motionless. We think it is not asleep at all—surely it is meditating on Viśveśvara (Śiva).
Skanda (deduced; narrative voice describing marvels)
Tirtha: Viśveśvara in Avimukta-Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Muni (frame listener) and/or devas among themselves
Scene: A serene riverbank or grove in Kāśī: a crane stands perfectly still, its neck resting gently on another bird (Lakṣmaṇā), while an unseen presence of Viśveśvara is felt—suggesting the bird’s ‘meditation’.
FAQs
In Kāśī, even creatures appear naturally inclined toward stillness and contemplation of Śiva—devotion becomes effortless.
Viśveśvara of Kāśī (the principal Śiva of the Avimukta-kṣetra) is directly invoked.
No formal rite; the verse highlights dhyāna (meditative absorption) as an ideal response to Kāśī’s sanctity.