Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55
सायुज्यमुक्तिरत्रैव सान्निध्यादिरथान्यतः । सुलभा सापि नो नूनं काश्यां मोक्षोस्ति हेलया
sāyujyamuktiratraiva sānnidhyādirathānyataḥ | sulabhā sāpi no nūnaṃ kāśyāṃ mokṣosti helayā
இங்கேயே சாயுஜ்யமுக்தி (இறைவனுடன் ஒன்றாதல்); பிற இடங்களில் சான்னித்யம் முதலிய பலன்கள். அந்தச் சாயுஜ்யமும் உண்மையில் எளிதல்ல; ஆனால் காசியில் மோட்சம் எளிதாகவே கிடைக்கிறது.
Skanda (deduced from Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Agastya (contextual)
Scene: A luminous panorama of Kāśī on the Gaṅgā: pilgrims at ghāṭas, bells and lamps, and above them a radiant Śiva-bestowing-sāyujya motif—souls merging into a Śiva-tejas halo near Viśveśvara’s sanctum.
FAQs
Kāśī uniquely makes liberation accessible; it is praised as a place where mokṣa comes with exceptional ease.
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), as the exceptional mokṣa-kṣetra.
No explicit ritual; the verse contrasts grades of liberation and highlights Kāśī’s special efficacy.