Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.475

c8.475

Gaṇeśa came to Kāśī and appearing in person before his devotee Maṅkaṇa, asked him to build a temple on the outskirts of Kāśī. Maṅkaṇa completed the temple and Gaṇeśa (Nikumbha) installed himself in that temple getting for it the name Nikumbhamandira. Devotees began to flow into the temple and Nikumbha sitting there answered the prayers of all. But he never fulfilled the prayer of the King to have a son. This annoyed Divodāsa and he destroyed the temple and then Nikumbha cursed that the city of Kāśī would become desolate. Śiva’s desire thus became fulfilled. (92. 33, Vāyu Purāṇa and 3; 67, 43, Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa).