Dīvodāsa and Vārāṇasī

This is one of the most important accounts of the sacred history of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī). A yaksha named Nikuṃbha put a śāpa (a curse) on the city when King Dīvodāsa broke his shrine, and the city was emptied. Later Dīvodāsa broke the shrine of Gaṇeśa at the city gate, and Gaṇeśa and Nikuṃbha together put a śāpa on his line. At last Bhagavān Śiva and Devī Pārvatī chose Kāśī as their own home and named it Avimukta, “the never-forsaken”.

Nikuṃbha’s śāpa

Nikuṃbha was a yaksha, a being of the lower divine order. He had set up his shrine inside Vārāṇasī.

Dīvodāsa was a righteous and powerful king of the line of Dhanvantari. When his rule in Kāśī began, he cleansed the city thoroughly. In doing so he destroyed Nikuṃbha’s shrine.

Nikuṃbha was furious that his home had been broken. He gave Vārāṇasī a terrible śāpa: the city would lose its people, they would be driven out, and it would be left empty and bare. The śāpa worked, and the city was emptied.

Dīvodāsa is made king

After Nikuṃbha’s śāpa had emptied Vārāṇasī, Dīvodāsa was set up as king of the empty city. He filled it again by ruling justly and gathering citizens from the lands around. Kāśī became once more a great centre of learning and dharma.

His reign was long and the city did well. He was a devoted follower of dharma, and his rule was known for justice.

Gaṇeśa at the city gate

Gaṇeśa had been set up at the gate of Vārāṇasī as its guardian. The form of Gaṇeśa is not named in full here, but his work as protector of the holy city was well known.

The Purāṇa records that Dīvodāsa also destroyed this shrine of Gaṇeśa at the gate. Gaṇeśa was angry. He joined Nikuṃbha, and together they put a śāpa on Dīvodāsa and his line.

Bhagavān Śiva and Pārvatī choose Kāśī

In spite of the troubles of Dīvodāsa’s reign, Kāśī kept its highest holiness. Bhagavān Śiva and Devī Pārvatī chose Vārāṇasī as their eternal home and settled there for good.

From then on Kāśī was called Avimukta, “the never-forsaken”. Bhagavān Śiva and Pārvatī vowed never to leave it, even at pralaya (the dissolution of the world).

The Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa says that Avimukta is the dearest kshetra (sacred ground) of Bhagavān Śiva on earth. Whoever dies within its limits gains moksha. Bhagavān Śiva himself whispers the tārakā-mantra (the mantra that carries across) into the ear of the dying person in Kāśī.

Dīvodāsa’s son Pratardana

Dīvodāsa’s line went on through his son Pratardana and the kings after him. In spite of the śāpas, the line gave many notable kings who ruled Kāśī.

The city was made holy by the lasting home of Bhagavān Śiva and Pārvatī. It remained the highest tīrtha (crossing-place) on all the earth, the place from which the freed ātmā (soul) leaves saṃsāra (the cycle of birth and death).

Sources

• Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Madhyama Bhāga, Chapter 67