Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37
विदलोत्पलदैत्ययोरुत्पत्तिः देवपराजयः ब्रह्मोपदेशः नारदप्रेषणम्
Vidalotpala Daityas, Defeat of the Devas, Brahmā’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Mission
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वामंत्र्य तं व्यासं तन्नुतो मद्वरात्मजः । ययौ विहायसा काशीं चरितं शशिमौलिनः
brahmovāca | ityuktvāmaṃtrya taṃ vyāsaṃ tannuto madvarātmajaḥ | yayau vihāyasā kāśīṃ caritaṃ śaśimaulinaḥ
Brahmā dit : «Ayant ainsi parlé, puis s’étant entretenu avec Vyāsa et l’ayant salué avec respect, mon noble fils—loué par lui—s’en alla par les airs vers Kāśī, la cité sainte sanctifiée par les actes divins du Seigneur au croissant de lune (Śiva).»
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is portrayed as Śiva’s own kṣetra, sanctified by his līlā; remembrance of the Moon-crested Lord’s deeds makes the city a direct locus of grace where death itself becomes a passage toward liberation through Śiva’s favor.
Significance: Darśana of Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha and residence or death in Kāśī are extolled as exceptionally purifying; the kṣetra is treated as a privileged field for Śiva’s anugraha and for cutting pāśa (bondage).
FAQs
The verse highlights Kāśī as a liberation-oriented sacred space (mokṣa-kṣetra) because it is permeated by Śiva’s divine presence and deeds; in Shaiva Siddhānta, such sanctity supports devotion (bhakti) and grace (anugraha) leading toward release from bondage.
By calling Śiva “Śaśimauli” (the Moon-crested Lord), the verse points to Saguna Śiva—worshiped with form and attributes—whose presence is especially celebrated in Kāśī through temples and Liṅga worship, where devotees seek purification and Śiva’s saving grace.
A practical takeaway is pilgrimage with remembrance: visit Kāśī (or mentally contemplate it), worship Śiva in a Liṅga shrine with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and maintain steady bhakti—seeing the tīrtha as a support for inner purification and liberation.