Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 5
भूर्भुवःस्वस्तले यानि शुभान्यायतनानि हि । मुक्तिदान्यपि तानीह मयानीतानि सर्वतः
bhūrbhuvaḥsvastale yāni śubhānyāyatanāni hi | muktidānyapi tānīha mayānītāni sarvataḥ
भू, भुवः और स्वर्गलोक में जो-जो शुभ तीर्थायतन हैं—यहाँ तक कि जो मुक्ति देने वाले हैं—वे सब मैंने चारों दिशाओं से यहाँ ले आए हैं।
Nandī (continuation of address to Śiva)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta) as Sarva-āyatana-sanniveśa
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sages/pilgrims (contextual)
Scene: A symbolic map where diverse sanctuaries from earth, mid-space, and heaven appear as miniature shrines converging into Kāśī; Nandī presenting them as gathered offerings to Viśveśvara.
FAQs
Kāśī is presented as a spiritual microcosm—where the merit of many sacred places is concentrated for seekers of liberation.
Kāśī, implied as the ‘here’ where all auspicious āyatanas are gathered.
No specific ritual; the verse emphasizes the unique concentration of muktidāyaka sanctuaries within Kāśī.