Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 59
शृणुष्व विष्णो शृणु सृष्टिकर्तः शृण्वंतु देवर्षिगणाः समस्ताः । इदं हि लिंगं परसिद्धिदं सतां भेदो मनागत्र न मत्सकाशतः
śṛṇuṣva viṣṇo śṛṇu sṛṣṭikartaḥ śṛṇvaṃtu devarṣigaṇāḥ samastāḥ | idaṃ hi liṃgaṃ parasiddhidaṃ satāṃ bhedo manāgatra na matsakāśataḥ
سنو اے وِشنو؛ سنو اے خالقِ کائنات—تمام دیورشیوں کے گروہ سنیں۔ یہ لِنگ نیکوں کو اعلیٰ ترین کمال عطا کرتا ہے؛ یہاں میری حضوری سے ذرّہ برابر بھی فرق نہیں۔
Śiva (contextual, addressing Viṣṇu and Brahmā)
Tirtha: Viśveśvara Liṅga (Kāśī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Viṣṇu, Brahmā, and assembled devarṣis
Scene: Śiva proclaims before Viṣṇu, Brahmā, and assembled devarṣis that the Kāśī Liṅga grants supreme perfection and is non-different from Him; a cosmic court-like assembly with the Liṅga as the radiant center.
FAQs
The Liṅga is affirmed as a direct locus of Śiva’s presence and a bestower of the highest spiritual attainment.
The sacred Liṅga of Kāśī (in the Viśveśvara-centered Mahātmya context).
No specific rite is detailed; the verse functions as a proclamation validating Liṅga worship as equal to worship of Śiva Himself.