Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.965

c5.965

The story of the ruin of Vārāṇasī in Harivaṃśa is different. It was the time when Śiva had married Pārvatī, the daughter of Himavān. After marriage Śiva shifted his residence to his wife's house. Śiva whose task was to look after the affairs of the world, was never available for the purpose at Kailāsa, his own seat. The gods were in a helpless condition. They approached Pārvatī's mother, Menā and requested her to persuade Śiva to return to his own place by any means. Menā called her daughter and ridiculed her husband as a vagabond who had no place to lay his head on. Pārvatī could not bear this insult. Her mother's stinging remarks got circulation in Devaloka. So she urged Śiva to settle down somewhere on earth with her. Śiva agreed and promised to take up residence at Kāśī.