Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 99
महाकालमहाकालमहाकालेतिसंततम् । स्मरतःस्मरतो नित्यं स्मरकर्तृस्मरांतकौ
mahākālamahākālamahākāletisaṃtatam | smarataḥsmarato nityaṃ smarakartṛsmarāṃtakau
எவர் இடையறாது “மகாகால, மகாகால, மகாகால” என்று ஜபித்து, தினமும் மீண்டும் மீண்டும் அவரை நினைக்கிறாரோ, அவர் காமனை உருவாக்கியவரையும் காமனை அழித்தவரையும்—இருவரையும் நினைக்கிறார்.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśī-khaṇḍa discourse, often Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Mahākāla (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A devotee seated near a Kāśī shrine repeats ‘Mahākāla’ on a rudrākṣa mālā; behind, Śiva appears as Smarāntaka with a calm, ash-smeared form; a faint image of Kāma (with sugarcane bow) dissolves into light, symbolizing desire’s pacification.
FAQs
Nāma-smaraṇa of Mahākāla is a direct devotional practice that aligns the mind with Śiva’s power over desire and time.
Mahākāla’s kṣetra is the implied setting, but the practice (Mahākāla-nāma) is portable and can be done anywhere.
Yes: continuous repetition/remembering of the name “Mahākāla” (nāma-japa / smaraṇa).