Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33
अथवा किमिदं चित्रं शर्वभक्तजनेष्वहो । आविर्भवेत्स्वयं रुद्रो यतोरुद्रास्तदर्चकाः
athavā kimidaṃ citraṃ śarvabhaktajaneṣvaho | āvirbhavetsvayaṃ rudro yatorudrāstadarcakāḥ
లేదా ఇందులో ఆశ్చర్యమేముంది—శర్వభక్తుల మధ్య? ఎందుకంటే రుద్రుడు స్వయంగా ప్రత్యక్షమగును; ఆయనను ఆరాధించువారూ భక్తిబలంతో రుద్రస్వరూపులవుతారు.
Skanda (narrating; sentiment voiced by devotees/attendants—contextual)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (implied)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A circle of Śarva’s devotees in Kāśī, their faces lit by Śiva’s sudden appearance; subtle visual metaphor: each devotee bears a faint Rudra-like aura, suggesting ‘they are Rudras’ through devotion.
FAQs
Śiva’s devotees are transformed by devotion; divine manifestation is presented as natural where sincere Śarva-bhakti flourishes.
Kāśī is the implied sacred setting via the Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, emphasizing Śiva’s accessibility to devotees there.
No specific rite is prescribed; the verse stresses arcana (worship) and the spiritual identity it bestows.