Durvasa Rishi Ashram and Mandir, Kharu Bab, Prayagraj

If there is anyone in ancient Indian history who has got the largest influence on how events unfold, it is none other than Durvasa Rishi. He was known for his short temper which resulted in lots of curses but there were an equal measure of boons too.

Durvasa Rishi Ashram and Durvas Temple is located on the outskirts of Prayagraj.

Location of Durvasa Rishi Ashram

Reaching places like Durvasa Rishi Ashram which are on the river bank is tricky using Google Maps. Navigation will show multiple routes and short cuts. Do not leave the main road. Look for marking boards because the UP Govt has marked all tourist places quite well. Most of these places are visited frequently by tourists. Follow the main route till you see this board.

Part of the route will take you through rural Uttar Pradesh which is mostly cow country. Wonderful sight to enjoy cattle grazing in the open. Roads can get narrow towards the end.

About the temple and the Rishi

There is an outer courtyard and inner one where the temple is located. The ashram is located nearby. The temple design is quite simple but not the rishi for which it is built. Let us understand that first.

Once Durvasa was gifted a garland by an apsara of the forest. He in turn gave it to God Indra who placed it on the head of his elephant, Airavat. The bees which were attracted to the garland started irritating the elephant who threw the garland on the ground. Enraged by this, Durvasa placed a curse on the Gods that they will lose their powers. The asuras meanwhile got wind of this and started raging wars to defeat the Gods. Vishnu proposed a truce and alliance. They came up with an idea of Samudra Manthan or churning of the oceans to get the divine nectar or amrit.

When Parvati complained to Shiva that his anger is making her impossible for her to stay with him. Shiva packaged his anger and deposited it into the wife of a sage from which a son was born. He was named Durvasa (difficult to live with).

Durvasa was the one who told Kunti the secret mantra to summon a God of choice to bear a child. As a young girl she first used this mantra to get Karan who is the eldest of the Pandavas.

Duryodhan somehow managed to impress Durvasa with his hospitality. In return, Durvasa asked him for any wish which will be granted. Duryodhan asked him to visit the Pandavas in exile at that time. The plan was the Duryodhan knew that the Pandavas will not have enough food to feed Durvasa as well as all his disciples. This will enrage Durvasa who would surely curse them all. It was Krishna who comes to the rescue and famously eating the single grain of rice.

Durvasa also cursed Krishna’s wife Rukmini for drinking water without his permission. While Krishna tried his level best to mitigate the curse, since it involved her separation from Krishna. The matter finally gets resolved but not before it reaches the peak. Durvasa requests Krishna to join with Rukmini and Ganga becomes the river who liberates people of their sins.

Once while hunting in the forest, King Dushyant of Hastinapur saw Shakuntala and immediately fell in love with her. He left the place giving Shakuntala a ring and promise that he will come back for her and then take her back as a queen. Shakuntala was so much smitten by the young King that she is day dreaming the whole day. In this she forgets to greet Durvasa who curses her that the person whom she is dreaming about will forget here. Later when he comes to know about her story he softens the curse that this man will only remember her once she presents her with the token which can identify her. While crossing a river, her ring slips from the finger and that makes Dushyant forget her. Later her son Bharat is met by Dushyant and coincidently the ring is retrieved by a local fisherman who recognises the ring as that of the King. Her son Bharat is the one after whom our country is called Bharat.

Finally Durvasa was also responsible for the death of Laxman, the brother of Ram. Durvasa appeared at Ayodhya while Ram was in a private discussion with Yama, the God of Death. Ram had given strict instructions to Laxman that anyone who disturbs him will be put to death as he did not want anyone to break this conversation. Durvasa grew impatient waiting and threatened to curse all of Ayodhya. Laxman decided that the best course of action would be to inform Rama and face death rather than create problems for complete Ayodhya. But Ram never wanted to kill his brother, so he abandoned him. Laxman went to Saryu River and drowned himself. Indra God however stopped him from dying and took him to heaven as a mortal.