Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 3
स्कंद उवाच । आकर्णय मुने पूर्वं पंचवक्त्रो हरः स्वयम् । पृथिव्यां पंचधा भूत्वा प्रादुरासीज्जगद्धितः
skaṃda uvāca | ākarṇaya mune pūrvaṃ paṃcavaktro haraḥ svayam | pṛthivyāṃ paṃcadhā bhūtvā prādurāsījjagaddhitaḥ
ஸ்கந்தர் கூறினார்: ஹே முனிவரே! முன்பு நிகழ்ந்ததை கேள். ஐந்து முகங்களுடைய ஹரன் தானே உலக நலனுக்காக பூமியில் ஐந்து வடிவங்களாக வெளிப்பட்டான்.
Skanda
Listener: Muni (addressed as 'mune')
Scene: Skanda narrates: five-faced Hara descends and becomes five forms on earth. Visualize a central pañcavaktra Śiva radiating into five emanations, each taking a distinct stance, blessing the world.
FAQs
Śiva’s manifestations are compassionate interventions—divinity appears in forms suited to protect Dharma and uplift the world.
The verse is thematic rather than locational; within Kāśīkhaṇḍa it supports the sanctity of Śiva-connected sacred places in Kāśī.
None; it introduces a theological narrative about Śiva’s fivefold appearance.