Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 88
सा दुर्गाशक्तिभिः सार्धं काशीं रक्षति सर्वतः । ताः प्रयत्नेन संपूज्या कालरात्रिमुखा नरैः
sā durgāśaktibhiḥ sārdhaṃ kāśīṃ rakṣati sarvataḥ | tāḥ prayatnena saṃpūjyā kālarātrimukhā naraiḥ
அந்த துர்கை தன் சக்திகளுடன் சேர்ந்து காசியை எல்லாத் திசைகளிலும் காக்கிறாள். ஆகவே காலராத்திரி முதலிய அந்த சக்திகளை மக்கள் முயற்சியுடன் வழிபட வேண்டும்।
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context) to Agastya
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (Śakti-rakṣā-maṇḍala)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Durgā stands as a radiant protectress over the map-like silhouette of Kāśī, while multiple Śaktis emanate around her like a directional garland; devotees offer worship beginning with the fierce Kālarātri.
FAQs
The sacred city is protected by divine energies; honoring those protective powers aligns the devotee with the kṣetra’s spiritual order.
Kāśī as a protected kṣetra (sacred field) guarded by Durgā and her Śaktis.
Worship Durgā’s Śaktis diligently, explicitly mentioning Kālarātri as foremost among them.