Skandapurana 4.53

Agasti spoke:

An unprecedented tale of Brahmā has been told, O best of the knowers of Brahman!

What did Śambhu do next, while Brahmā remained there? (1)

Skanda spoke:

Listen, O highly fortunate Agastya, while Brahmā remained in Kāśī,

Giriśa reflected, his mind intensely anxious: (2)

'Such a city as that Kāśī is, a ground of enchantment,

no such place has surely ever been seen anywhere by me! (3)

Whoever goes to that city remains right there;

those unconnected with yoga became followers of yoga when united with Kāśī. (4)

Even the thousand-rayed sun, reaching [there], quickly became completely ineffective.

Even Brahmā, skilled in ritual injunctions, did not come near me!' (5)

Reflecting thus, the Lord of the gods summoned his attendants in great numbers

and sent them forth: 'O you, go swiftly to the city of Vārāṇasī! (6)

What are the yoginīs doing? What is that sun doing?

Go with haste and find out: and what is Brahmā doing?' (7)

He then dispatched them by name, preceded by great respect:

'Śaṅkukarṇa, Mahākāla, Ghaṭākarṇa, Mahodara, (8)

Somanandin, Nandiṣeṇa, Kāla, Piṅgala, Kukkuṭa,

Kuṇḍodara, Mayūrākṣa, Bāṇa, Gokarṇa, Tāraka, (9)

Tilaparṇa, Smṛlakarṇa, Dṛmiciṇḍa, Prabhāmaya,

Sukeśa, Vindate, Chāga, Kapardin, Piṅgalākṣaka, (10)

Vīrabhadra, the one called Kirāta, Caturmukha, Nikumbhaka,

Pañcākṣa, the one called Bhārabhūta, Tryakṣa, Kṣemaka, Lāṅgalin, (11)

Virādha, Sumukha, Āṣāḍha—you are my sons,

just as are these two, Skanda and Heramba, and just as is this Naigameya, (12)

just as are Śākha and Viśākha, and just as are these two, Nandin and Bhṛṅgin.

While you are present, endowed with great valour, (13)

I know nothing of what is happening in Kāśī, nor of King Divodāsa,

nor of the yoginīs, the sun, and Brahmā. Therefore, go, you two from among you, (14)

Śaṅkukarṇa and Mahākāla, who make even Death tremble!

Go endowed with swiftness to learn news of Vārāṇasī.' (15)

Having made their vow, those two swiftly reached the city of Vārāṇasī.

Forgetting the word of Śambhu, Śaṅkukarṇa and Mahākāla— (16)

just as a wise man seeing a magician's illusion in this world

succumbs to bewilderment in an instant, even so did those two upon seeing Kāśī. (17)

Ah, the majesty of delusion! Ah, the reversal of fortune,

since the unwise, having reached Kāśī, the heap of nirvāṇa, go elsewhere! (18)

By those by whom this Kāśī, the ground of great blessings, has been abandoned,

liberation, even though attained in the palm of their hands, has departed on all sides. (19)

Where a mere bath is superior to all concluding sacrifice ablutions,

even with heated waters—who would abandon that Kāśī? (20)

Where, by the offering of a single flower upon the head of a Śiva-liṅga,

the merit of ten gold coins is obtained—who would abandon that Kāśī? (21)

Where, even by a single prostration like a staff before Śiva,

they declare Indra's station to be trifling—who would relinquish that Kāśī? (22)

Where, having fed merely a single twice-born man to his heart's content,

the merit is greater than that of a Vājapeya sacrifice—who would relinquish that Kāśī? (23)

Where, having given a single cow according to the rules to a brahmin,

one obtains the merit of ten thousand cows—what wise person would abandon that Kāśī? (24)

Where, having consecrated a single liṅga, it is as if the entire three worlds

have been established—who would abandon that Kāśī? (25)

Having resolved thus, establishing two merit-bestowing liṅgas,

the two took up residence right there, and do not leave Kāśī even today. (26)

Having seen the liṅga Śaṅkukarṇeśvara, worshipped by the attendant Śaṅkukarṇa,

a creature is never born again in the womb of a mother. (27)

In the north-west direction from Viśveśa, a man having worshipped Śaṅkukarṇeśvara

would not enter into the terrible ocean of saṃsāra in this world. (28)

The liṅga Mahākāleśvara, worshipped by the attendant Mahākāla,

And having worshipped, bowed to, and praised [it], whence could there be any fear of Death? .. 29 ..

Skanda said:

When Śaṅkukarṇa and Mahākāla were delayed for a long time,

the all-knowing Lord, understanding [this], then spoke to two other gaṇas: .. 4.2.53.30 ..

“Ghaṇṭākarṇa, come here! O wise Mahodara!

Go both of you swiftly to Kāśī to find out the doings there.” .. 31 ..

Thus addressed, the two gaṇas went to the great city of Kāśī,

and turning away, they have not returned anywhere even today, but have remained right there. .. 32 ..

Ghaṇṭākarṇa, the best of gaṇas, having properly installed

the liṅga Ghaṇṭākarṇeśvara in Kāśī, was himself blissfully content right there. .. 33 ..

Having established a reservoir right there for the purpose of the ceremonial bath of the liṅga,

he would not leave Kāśī even today, meditating indeed upon the liṅga in the very same way. .. 34 ..

Mahodara too, devoted to meditation on Śiva to the east of it,

would meditate even today upon the liṅga Mahodareśvara, O pot-born [Agastya]! .. 35 ..

Having seen Mahodareśvara in Vārāṇasī, O best of the twice-born,

one will never indeed enter a mother's belly-cave again. .. 36 ..

Having bathed in the pool of Ghaṇṭākarṇa and seen the all-pervading Vyāseśvara,

even if one dies anywhere at all, it is as if he died in Vārāṇasī. .. 37 ..

Having performed a śrāddha according to rule at the great sacred ford Ghaṇṭākarṇa,

one can deliver seven ancestors, even if they have fallen into an evil state. .. 38 ..

Having plunged even today into that pool, whoever becomes attentive for a moment,

he hears the ringing sounds of the bells during the great worship of Viśveśvara. .. 39 ..

The ancestors say: “In Kāśī, in the pure water of Ghaṇṭākarṇa,

may someone be born in our lineage who is a giver of even sesamum-water!” .. 4.2.53.40 ..

Sages whose descendants have performed water-rites at Kāśī in the great pool of Ghaṇṭākarṇa,

have attained supreme perfection, O pot-born [Agastya]! .. 41 ..

Skanda said:

When the gaṇa Ghaṇṭākarṇa had gone and Mahodara had departed,

the enemy of Smara marvelled, shaking his head again and again. .. 42 ..

And Hara said in his mind, smiling again and again:

“O Kāśī, you are the lore of great delusion; I fully comprehend you. .. 43 ..

Those who know the ancient lore praise you as dispelling great delusion;

they do not know Kāśī thus: this is the land of great delusion! .. 44 ..

I will send everyone; you will delude them.

Thus I know well, O Kāśī, that you are an herb of delusion. .. 45 ..

Even so, I will send as much retinue as I have;

the wise do not cease from effort in an action that is to be accomplished. .. 46 ..

No cessation of effort should be made by the discerning in any task;

even adverse fate would be worn down by one's constant exertion. .. 47 ..

The cool-rayed [moon] and the hot-rayed [sun], though seized by Svarbhānu in the courtyard of the sky,

even today do not abandon their course, exerting their effort to advance. .. 48 ..

On the one hand, fate repeatedly destroys undertakings through adversity;

on the other hand, the things to be done here will succeed through great effort. .. 49 ..

Fate is declared to be action done in a previous life, nothing else;

in counteracting that, effort must be made by the wise man himself. .. 4.2.53.50 ..

Food placed in a dish by fate would not enter the mouth on its own;

and by the effort of the hand and the mouth, it can enter the belly-cave.” .. 51 ..

Thus affirming effort, which is certain to conquer fate, the Lord

again sent five gaṇas of great swiftness: .. 52 ..

Somanandī, Nandiṣeṇa, Kāla, Piṅgala, and Kukkuṭa.

Even today they do not return from Kāśī, as if they were living-dead. .. 53 ..

They too, having installed liṅgas under their own names desiring Śambhu's satisfaction,

remained in Kāśī, the birthplace of universal liberation. .. 54 ..

Having seen the supreme liṅga Somanandīśvara in the Nandavana,

a devoted man would attain supreme bliss in the realm of Soma. .. 55 ..

Then, having seen Nandiṣeṇeśvara to the north of it, a man,

obtaining an army of bliss, would conquer even Death in an instant. .. 56 ..

Having bowed to the great liṅga Kāleśvara to the northwest of the Gaṅgā,

one would never be bound by the noose of Death. .. 57 ..

Having worshipped Piṅgaleśvara a little to the north of Kāleśa,

he obtains the tawny knowledge by which he attains identity with him.

Those who show devotion here to the liṅga Kukkuṭeśvara,

which has the form of a hen's egg, do not enter a womb [again].

Skanda said:

When even the five Gaṇas, led by Somanandin, O sage,

had reached Ānandakānana and stayed there, Sthāṇu said:

"If properly considered, this is indeed my own task:

even under this pretext, let these followers of mine remain there.

When the Pramathas have entered, though great in magical power,

I myself have entered Vārāṇasī, without doubt.

In due course I will send whatever retinue is mine;

when all of them have gone there, then I too shall go."

Having so resolved in his heart, the trident-bearing God of gods

then dispatched a group of four Gaṇas among the Pramathas:

Kuṇḍodara, Mayūra by name, Bāṇa, and Gokarṇa.

Resorting to the power of māyā, the Gaṇas entered Kāśī.

Though having tried a hundred means to cause confusion to Divodāsa, / when not even one proved capable, they remained right there.

"By what action is the Lord pleased when there are a hundred transgressions?"

Reflecting thus, they performed the supreme worship of the liṅga:

"When a single liṅga belonging to Śambhu is properly worshipped here according to the rules,

the Three-eyed Lord forgives a hundred transgressions and grants liberation.

Śambhu is not so pleased by sacrifices, gifts, austerities, and observances,

as he is pleased when a liṅga is worshipped once according to the rules.

One who knows the rules for worshipping the liṅga and is ever devoted to worshipping the liṅga

is to be regarded as the Three-eyed Lord himself, even though manifest as a two-eyed human.

Not by the gift of a hundred cows, nor by the gift of a hundred [pieces of] gold,

is that fruit obtained by men which comes from worshipping the liṅga even once.

Not by sacrifices such as the horse sacrifice is that fruit obtained

which mortals obtain through daily worship of the liṅga.

He who, having bathed [the liṅga] according to rule, drinks thrice

the water from the ceremonial bath of the liṅga—his threefold sin is swiftly destroyed here.

He who sprinkles the water from the ceremonial bath of the liṅga upon his head—

the fruit of bathing in the Gaṅgā belongs to him; he becomes free from sin.

He who, seeing a liṅga that has been worshipped, bows down even once,

doubt arises regarding his being bound again in a body.

He who installs a liṅga with devotion is freed from the sin committed in seven births,

of this there is no doubt; purified, he shares in heaven."

Having considered thus, the Gaṇas, in order to pacify their betrayal of their master,

installed liṅgas in Kāśī that shatter even great sins.

Beholding the liṅga Kuṇḍodareśvara near Lolārka,

one is freed from all sins and glorified in Śiva's world.

To the west of the liṅga Kuṇḍodareśvara, on the bank of the Asi,

having worshipped Mayūreśvara, one does not enter a womb.

And to the west of Mayūreśa is the great liṅga Bāṇeśvara;

merely by its darśana, one is freed from all sins.

Having worshipped the great liṅga Gokarṇeśa at the western gate

of the inner sanctuary in Kāśī, one is not overcome by obstacles.

For a devotee of Gokarṇeśvara, at the time of death,

no loss of knowledge occurs wherever he meets his end.

Skanda said:

As these four Gaṇas were delaying, the Lord of Gaṇas

extolled the glory and majesty of that Kāśī:

"By Vaiṣṇava māyā, by which the whole universe is deluded here,

this Kāśī is certainly that [māyā] embodied, the sole enchantress of the world!

Abandoning brothers, wives, son, field, house, and wealth,

and even embracing death, all people serve Kāśī.

Where there is not the slightest fear even of death in Kāśī,

why should the Gaṇas dwelling there fear even me?

Where death is auspicious, where sacred ash is ornament,

where a loincloth is silk—to what can Kāśī be compared?"

Where the beautiful maiden of final liberation chooses a beggar or a prince,

a brahmin or an outcaste, whose ornament is the final end.

Where creatures, dying and attaining the state of liberation,

are not equalled by even a fraction of a crore by the gods, Indra and the rest.

In which Kāśī a creature who has died is revered with great effort

by Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa, and the others, their hands folded upon their heads.

Where, in Kāśī, even in being a corpse a creature does not contract impurity;

therefore I myself personally touch his ear.

The virtuous person who murmurs 'Kāśī, Kāśī' twice or thrice

is purer than all purifying things and great.

He by whom Kāśī is meditated upon in the heart, by whom Kāśī is served here,

by him am I meditated upon in the heart; by him am I served always.

Whatever creature serves Kāśī with an unwavering mind,

him do I always hold in my heart with special care.

Even if unable to dwell there himself, one should settle an inhabitant of the sacred ford;

even if only one, at some expense, he surely shares in the fruit of dwelling there.

Those steadfast ones who dwell in Kāśī, resolved to remain until death,

are to be known as liberated while living; they alone are venerable and worshipful.

Reflecting thus repeatedly upon the virtues of Vārāṇasī, Sthāṇu,

summoning other gaṇas, dispatched them with affection:

“Tāraka, come forward! Go, you of pure mind,