Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 5
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पूतात्मा जायते नरः । पापकंचुकमुत्सृज्य स वसेत्पावने पुरे
yasya darśanamātreṇa pūtātmā jāyate naraḥ | pāpakaṃcukamutsṛjya sa vasetpāvane pure
เพียงได้เห็นพระองค์เท่านั้น มนุษย์ย่อมมีอาตมันบริสุทธิ์ได้ ครั้นสลัดผ้าคลุมแห่งบาปแล้ว พึงพำนักในนครของผู้ชำระให้บริสุทธิ์ คือ ปาวนะ
Narrator voice within Kāśīkhaṇḍa (deduced as Skanda)
Tirtha: Pavaneśvara
Type: temple
Scene: A pilgrim approaches Pavaneśvara; upon darśana, a dark ‘cloak’ symbolizing sin falls away, revealing a luminous, calm countenance; the lanes of Kāśī and a small shrine frame the transformation.
FAQs
Darśana of the Kāśī-liṅga is itself purificatory; liberation begins by shedding sin through contact with the sacred presence.
Pavaneśvara in Kāśī/Vārāṇasī, praised as a purifier whose darśana cleanses the soul.
Darśana (visiting/seeing the deity) and residing in the holy city are implied as observances.