Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 120
अप्येकं यो महारुद्रं जपेद्वीरेश सन्निधौ । जापयेद्वा भवेत्तस्य कोटिरुद्रफलं ध्रुवम्
apyekaṃ yo mahārudraṃ japedvīreśa sannidhau | jāpayedvā bhavettasya koṭirudraphalaṃ dhruvam
जो वीरेशाच्या सान्निध्यात महारुद्र मंत्र एकदाही जपतो, किंवा इतरांकडून जप करवितो, त्याला निश्चयाने कोटिरुद्रासमान फल प्राप्त होते।
Skanda (deduced from Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue convention)
Tirtha: Vīreśa-sannidhi (Kāśī)
Type: temple
Scene: A pilgrim stands before the Vīreśa liṅga on the Gaṅgā-side, hands in añjali, softly reciting Mahārudra; nearby, learned brāhmaṇas chant on behalf of donors, with lamps and bilva leaves offered.
FAQs
In Kāśī, devotion performed with faith at a praised shrine is amplified; even a small act of japa near Vīreśa yields vast merit.
The presence (sannidhi) of Vīreśa in Kāśī is praised as a powerful locus for Rudra-oriented practice.
Japa of the Mahārudra (personally) or arranging japa through others (jāpana), promising Koṭi-Rudra-equivalent fruit.