Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 80
मुक्तिलक्ष्मी महापीठ मणिस्तच्चरणाब्जयोः । कर्णिकेयं ततः प्राहुर्यां जना मणिकर्णिकाम्
muktilakṣmī mahāpīṭha maṇistaccaraṇābjayoḥ | karṇikeyaṃ tataḥ prāhuryāṃ janā maṇikarṇikām
तस्य चरणारविन्दयोः मुक्तिलक्ष्मीति महापीठं प्रतिष्ठितम्; तत्र मणिरपि विद्यते। अत एव जनाः तां भूमिं ‘कर्णिका’ इति प्राहुः, तस्मात् सा मणिकर्णिका इति ख्याता॥
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue frame, typically Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Maṇikarṇikā
Type: ghat
Scene: A luminous ghat on the Gaṅgā where Śiva’s lotus-feet are envisioned as the cosmic ground; a radiant ‘Muktilakṣmī’ seat and a jewel motif suggest the name Maṇikarṇikā; pilgrims gaze in devotion as the river glows at dawn.
FAQs
Liberation (mukti) is portrayed as a living presence in Kāśī—Maṇikarṇikā is praised as a supreme seat where mokṣa is especially accessible.
Maṇikarṇikā Tīrtha of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), celebrated as a foremost mokṣa-kṣetra spot.
No explicit ritual is prescribed in this verse; it primarily establishes the sanctity and name-meaning of Maṇikarṇikā.