Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 49
यदाष्टवर्षदेशीयो हरिकेशोऽभवच्छिशुः । नित्यं तदाप्रभृत्येवं शिवमेकममन्यत
yadāṣṭavarṣadeśīyo harikeśo'bhavacchiśuḥ | nityaṃ tadāprabhṛtyevaṃ śivamekamamanyata
Ketika bocah Harikeśa mencapai kira-kira usia delapan tahun, sejak saat itu ia senantiasa memandang Śiva semata sebagai satu-satunya perlindungan dan hakikat tertinggi.
Skanda (narrative voice, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Agastya
Scene: An eight-year-old Harikeśa stands with folded hands before a simple Śiva-liṅga, eyes unwavering, the world around fading; a subtle aura suggests inner realization.
FAQs
Single-pointed devotion (eka-niṣṭhā) to Śiva is praised as the mark of true bhakti—even in childhood.
Kāśī is the overarching sacred setting in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa where such Śiva-bhakti is celebrated.
No formal rite; it emphasizes constant inner orientation to Śiva.