Dhruveshwar Temple, Varanasi

 Once a small Kingdom was ruled by a King named Uttanapad, who had two wives namely Suruchi and Suniti. Suruchi had a son named Uttam and Suniti had a son named Dhruv.Once when the King was sitting in the official Darbar, Uttam came up fully dressed and sat on the lap of his father, the King. Dhruv too proceeded to sit on the King’s lap but was forcibly prevented by Suruchi, who scolded him using derogatory words. The King did nothing to intervene and Dhruv went away to his residence, deeply dejected.

Dhruv’s mother Suniti saw tears in Dhruv’s eyes and soon came to know about the happening in the Darbar. Dhruv wanted to know from his mother, while both Suniti and Suruchi were the wives of the King, why he was being discriminated and ill treated and supposed as inferior to his step brother Uttam.

With utter dismay, Suniti told Dhruv that Suruchi must have performed all benevolent acts in her previous life. All persons ought to do good deeds like philanthropy, display of respect to elders, proper studies, showing respect to guests, worshipping God, listening to and perusal of various Purans, proper behaviour towards friends and persons equal to their parents. Those who undertake such good deeds are blessed in their next birth. The good exalted positions and comforts enjoyed by them in their present life are certainly the result of good deeds performed in the previous birth.

Suniti also told that Suruchi was the principal queen and all the other queens played second fiddle to her. Therefore, she must have priority over other queens in all respects.

Dhruv sought permission from his mother for undertaking penance and intense prayers to the Lord. Though the boy was too young and tender for such ordeal, yet Suniti gave him permission to follow the path of worship. Dhruv left his home and wandered through the forests in search of a suitable and proper place to carry out his prayers and penance.

He was deeply engrossed in thoughts with his eyes closed and when he opened his eyes, he saw seven great Sages passing by. Dhruv immediately prostrated before the great Sages and told them his plight. He expressed his desire to undertake intense penance to the Lord almighty. Dhruv further told that he would like his step brother to be the heir apparent and become the King in due course. Besides, Dhruv had no intention of enjoying something which he had not earned rightfully. He wanted to become an altruist (one who shows unselfish regard for the interest of others) and achieve something in life. He earnestly requested the great Sages to show him the right path.

All the seven Sages were unanimous in their advice. One by one they asked Dhruv to worship Lord Vishnu, in the process describing Lord Vishnu in his various forms. Further, they also advised the mode and manner in which Dhruv should worship Lord Vishnu. They also taught him some Mantras to chant regularly in praise of Lord Vishnu. After giving all good advices to Dhruv, the great Sages departed.

Dhruv reached the banks of Yamuna and started intensely praying Lord Vishnu by chanting the various Mantras as advised by the Sages. His prayers were so intense that many Devas like Lord Indra felt petrified. They tried to disturb Dhruv in his prayers but could not succeed. Kashi Khand, Chapter 20, has described in detail the type of prayers undertaken by Dhruv and various methods of interruptions adopted by the Devas.

The Devas alongwith Lord Indra approached Lord Brahma and narrated the intense penance and austerity undertaken by Dhruv and expressed their fear that their own position was in jeopardy (danger). Lord Brahma assured the Devas and assuaged their apprehension by telling that Dhruv would not do anything detrimental to their interest and advised them not to lose their composure.

However, Lord Vishnu soon realized the sincerity of the penance undertaken by Dhruv and appeared before him. On seeing the Lord in person, Dhruv was overwhelmed with ecstasy and started weeping. He started singing various mantras in praise of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was very pleased and he granted that Dhruv’s mother would always remain with him.

Lord Vishnu told that he was on the way to Kashi, the abode of Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu showered encomiums (high praises) on Kashi Kshetra and Lord Visweshwar who blesses all the denizens of Kashi. Lord Vishnu made Dhruv sit on Garuda and took him to Kashi. The day was Poornima of Kartik month. On the way, Lord Vishnu stated that a person who takes bath in river Ganga on the Shukla Chaturtasi day of Kartik month and worships Visweshwar is blessed with Moksha.

After reaching Kashi, Lord Vishnu advised Dhruv to install a Shiv Ling in Kashi and worship Lord Shiva. According to Lord Vishnu, if a person installs one Shiv Ling in Kashi it is equivalent to installing one million Shiv Lings in other places. Further, if a person constructs or renovates a temple in Kashi, he will get the punya equivalent to giving entire Sumeru Mountain in Daan (offering). After giving all such good advices to Dhruv, Lord Vishnu disappeared.

Very religiously, Dhruv dug a Kund, installed a Shiv Ling, constructed a temple and started praying Lord Shiva. Soon thereafter he left for his home.

According to Kashi Khand, a devotee who worships Dhruveshwar will attain all happiness in life and reach Dhruv Lok (heaven) after death. Further, prosperity will never leave the devotee. Kashi Khand has described the events related to Dhruv in detail in chapters nineteen to twenty one. Kashi Khand also states that those who read and listen to the story of Dhruv will be absolved of all their sins and will reach the abode of Lord Vishnu after death.