. A barber of वाराणसी who was a great devotec of गणेश . During the time of King दिवोदास II शिव wanted to destroy the city of काशी and deputed his son गणेश ( निकुम्भ ) for the same

गणेश came to काशी and appearing in person before his devotee मङ्कण , asked him to build a temple on the outskirts of काशी . मङ्कण completed the temple and गणेश ( निकुम्भ ) installed himself in that temple getting for it the name निकुम्भमन्दिर . Devotees began to flow into the temple and निकुम्भ sitting there answered the prayers of all. But he never fulfilled the prayer of the King to have a son. This annoyed दिवोदास and he destroyed the temple and then निकुम्भ cursed that the city of काशी would become desolate. शिव 's desire thus became fulfilled. (92. 33, Vāyu Purāṇa and 3 • 67, 43, Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa) .