Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 99
विपुलेत्र महीपृष्ठे पंचक्रोश्यां मनोहरा । संश्रिता मणिकर्णीयैस्ते याताश्चानिवर्तकाः
vipuletra mahīpṛṣṭhe paṃcakrośyāṃ manoharā | saṃśritā maṇikarṇīyaiste yātāścānivartakāḥ
On this vast earth, within the enchanting Pañcakrośī—the sacred circuit of Kāśī—those who take refuge with the devotees of Maṇikarṇikā proceed on a journey of no return, attaining final liberation.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context, typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Maṇikarṇikā (within Pañcakrośī)
Type: ghat
Listener: Agastya
Scene: A wide sacred landscape of Kāśī with the Pañcakrośī circuit implied as a halo-like boundary; pilgrims moving with staffs and waterpots; Maṇikarṇikā ghat steps descending to the Ganga; smoke of funeral pyres in the distance symbolizing apunarāvṛtti; ascetics offering guidance to newcomers seeking refuge.
FAQs
Refuge in Kāśī’s Maṇikarṇikā within the Pañcakrośī sphere is praised as a direct cause of non-return from saṃsāra (mokṣa).
Maṇikarṇikā tīrtha, situated within the Pañcakrośī sacred circuit of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī).
No explicit ritual is prescribed here; the emphasis is on taking refuge/association (saṃśraya) with Maṇikarṇikā’s sanctity and devotees.