Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 38
इत्यादि पापशीलोपि मुक्त्वैकं शिवनिंदकम । पापान्निष्कृतिमाप्नोति नत्वा लिंगं त्रिलोचनम्
ityādi pāpaśīlopi muktvaikaṃ śivaniṃdakama | pāpānniṣkṛtimāpnoti natvā liṃgaṃ trilocanam
ऐसे-ऐसे पापों का अभ्यासी भी—यदि केवल एक बात छोड़ दे, अर्थात् शिव-निंदा—तो त्रिलोचन प्रभु के लिंग को नमस्कार करके पापों से मुक्ति (प्रायश्चित्त) पा लेता है।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśī Khaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Trilocana-liṅga (Kāśī)
Type: temple
Scene: A remorseful sinner bows with folded hands before a radiant Śiva-liṅga of Trilocana; the atmosphere shifts from darkness to clarity, suggesting sins falling away like soot washed by light.
FAQs
Liṅga-veneration and restraint of speech—especially avoiding Śiva-nindā—are presented as crucial for purification.
Kāśī, where worship of the liṅga of Viśveśvara/Śiva is central to kṣetra-mahātmya.
Naman (bowing) to Śiva’s liṅga (liṅga-vandana) is explicitly stated as a means of niṣkṛti.