Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 41
वृद्धेनाराधितो यस्माद्धारीतेन तपस्विना । आदित्यो वार्धकहरो वृद्धादित्यस्ततः स्मृतः
vṛddhenārādhito yasmāddhārītena tapasvinā | ādityo vārdhakaharo vṛddhādityastataḥ smṛtaḥ
Because the ascetic Hārīta worshipped Āditya in his old age, that Āditya who removes the affliction of aging is therefore remembered as Vṛddhāditya.
Skanda (contextual, Kāśīkhaṇḍa frame)
Tirtha: Vṛddhāditya
Type: temple
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis
Scene: Hārīta, aged, offering arghya to the Sun; the Sun’s rays form the word/identity ‘Vṛddhāditya’ as a sanctified name, with a small shrine emerging in the background.
FAQs
Divine names in the Purāṇas preserve lived devotional history and proclaim the deity’s specific grace.
Kāśī’s Vṛddhāditya (Sun-shrine/tradition) is being established by name and function.
Ārādhana (devotional worship/propitiation) of Āditya is indicated.