Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 1
स्कंद उवाच । शृण्वगस्त्य तपोराशे काश्यां लिंगानि यानि वै । सेवितानि नृणां मुक्त्यै भवेयुर्भावितात्मनाम्
skaṃda uvāca | śṛṇvagastya taporāśe kāśyāṃ liṃgāni yāni vai | sevitāni nṛṇāṃ muktyai bhaveyurbhāvitātmanām
स्कन्द बोले: हे तपोराशि अगस्त्य, सुनो—काशी में जो-जो शिवलिंग हैं, वे भावित-आत्मा, शुद्ध और संयमी मनुष्यों द्वारा सेवित होने पर मनुष्यों की मुक्ति के हेतु बनते हैं।
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī-liṅga-samūha (collective)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Agastya
Scene: Skanda instructs Agastya: a panoramic sacred map-like vision of Kāśī with multiple liṅga shrines, pilgrims performing pradakṣiṇā, and a serene riverfront—emphasizing disciplined worship.
FAQs
Liberation is linked to both sacred place and inner refinement: worship in Kāśī bears fruit especially for the bhāvitātmā (cultivated-minded devotee).
Kāśī (Varanasi) as a field of many liberating Śiva-liṅgas.
Sevā/worship of Kāśī’s liṅgas with a purified, disciplined mind.