Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 66
सर्वेभ्यो दुष्टसत्त्वेभ्यो यतो रक्षेदहर्निशम् । रक्षत्येषा ततः प्रोक्ता विभूतिर्भूतिकृद्यतः
sarvebhyo duṣṭasattvebhyo yato rakṣedaharniśam | rakṣatyeṣā tataḥ proktā vibhūtirbhūtikṛdyataḥ
ଏହି ବିଭୂତି ଅହର୍ନିଶ ସମସ୍ତ ଦୁଷ୍ଟ ସତ୍ତ୍ୱମାନଙ୍କୁ ଠାରୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରେ ଏବଂ ନିଜେ ରକ୍ଷକ ହୋଇ ରହେ; ତେଣୁ ଏହାକୁ ‘ବିଭୂତି’ କୁହାଯାଏ, କାରଣ ଏହା ମଙ୍ଗଳ ଓ ଶୁଭସିଦ୍ଧି ଦାନ କରେ।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Personified Vibhūti as a pale, radiant protective presence standing beside a devotee, forming a vigilant guard through day and night; shadowy ‘duṣṭa-sattvas’ kept at bay.
FAQs
Sacred ash is not mere symbol; it is a dhārmic safeguard and a sign of Śaiva refuge that yields auspiciousness.
Within Kāśī’s tīrtha-cycle, the teaching supports the wider Piśācamocana-tīrtha narrative by explaining protective means like vibhūti.
Keeping vibhūti upon oneself as continual protection (aharniśam), implying regular application.