Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55
ये कार्तिके मासि सिताष्टमी तिथौ यात्रां करिष्यंति नरा उपोषिताः । रात्रौ च वै जागरणं महोत्सवैर्धर्मेश्वरे तेन पुनर्भवा भुवि
ye kārtike māsi sitāṣṭamī tithau yātrāṃ kariṣyaṃti narā upoṣitāḥ | rātrau ca vai jāgaraṇaṃ mahotsavairdharmeśvare tena punarbhavā bhuvi
कार्तिक महिन्यात शुक्ल अष्टमी तिथीस जे उपवास करून यात्रा करतात आणि धर्मेश्वर येथे महोत्सवात रात्रभर जागरण करतात, त्या व्रतामुळे त्यांना पृथ्वीवर पुनर्जन्म येत नाही।
Śiva (deduced, addressing Dharma)
Tirtha: Dharmeśvara
Type: kshetra
Scene: A grand night festival at Dharmeśvara: lamps blaze, devotees keep vigil singing; some sit in meditation, others circumambulate; the fasting pilgrims appear resolute under a moonlit Kārttika sky.
FAQs
Time-sanctified observances (Kārttika, aṣṭamī) joined with fasting and vigil at a holy shrine lead toward liberation from rebirth.
Dharmeśvara in Kāśī, as the focal point for Kārttika aṣṭamī pilgrimage, festival, and vigil.
Upavāsa (fasting), yātrā (pilgrimage/visit), and nocturnal jāgaraṇa (night vigil) during mahotsava at Dharmeśvara on Kārttika śukla aṣṭamī.