By 
No time for reading the story? Give it a listen on Spotify.
In this enchanting tale of devotion, Lord Shiva seeks to catch a glimpse of Lord Krishna, but it is the unwavering love of Mata Yashoda that triumphs in the end.
Characters in the story:
Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva holds significant prominence in Hinduism as a prominent deity, revered for his role as the vanquisher of malevolence and the catalyst of universal change. Depicted in various forms, he is often portrayed as a tranquil ascetic engaged in deep meditation or as the divine dancer, adorned with a third eye, an entwined serpent around his neck, and a trident grasped firmly in his hand.
Goddess Paraviti: Goddess Parvati is a prominent deity in Hinduism, known as the divine mother and the consort of Lord Shiva. She represents feminine power, fertility, love, and devotion, and is worshiped for her nurturing and compassionate nature.
Lord Krishna: Lord Krishna is one of the most popular and revered deities in Hinduism. He is worshiped as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and is known for his divine teachings in the Bhagavad Gita and for his role in the epic Mahabharata.
Mata Yashoda: Mata Yashoda is a revered figure in Hindu scriptures known as the foster mother of Lord Krishna, symbolizing love, devotion, and maternal affection.
Once, during his meditation, Lord Shiva received a divine revelation that all the gods had manifested in Gokul, at the house of Nanda Maharaja. Intrigued by this news, Lord Shiva decided to visit Gokul and catch a glimpse of Lord Krishna, who had recently been born. Parvati expressed her desire to accompany him, but Lord Shiva felt that the journey was too arduous for her.
She politely requested Lord Shiva to bring back some of the renowned butter from Gokul. Lord Shiva agreed to her request and embarked on his journey to Gokul.
As Lord Shiva approached the outskirts of the village, he instinctively realized that he should maintain his original form instead of assuming a disguise. He believed that Lord Krishna already knew his true identity, and therefore, it was best to present himself in his authentic appearance. This realization was a testament to the transformative power of the sacred dust of Braj, which granted profound insights to genuine devotees.
Lord Shiva’s natural form encompassed three eyes, long matted hair, a tiger skin, a garland of snakes, a belt of scorpions, and ashes adorning his body. Adorned in this fearsome attire, he boldly entered Gokul and made his way to Mata Yashoda’s house. With anticipation, he knocked on the door and requested alms.
Mata Yashoda, filled with deep and ecstatic love for her beloved Krishna, answered the door but failed to recognize the visitor as Lord Shiva. Unaware of his true identity, she extended her customary hospitality and offered him food and clothing. However, Lord Shiva declined her kind offer, expressing his sole intention of seeing her divine child.
To Lord Shiva’s disappointment, Mata Yashoda firmly refused his request, explaining that it was impossible for him to see Krishna. She offered him anything else he desired, expressing her concern that Krishna, being a small child, might be frightened by his awe-inspiring appearance. Sensing Mata Yashoda’s determination, Lord Shiva persisted, unwilling to leave without catching a glimpse of Krishna.
Their conversation turned into a gentle yet firm standoff, with Mata Yashoda adamant that Lord Shiva would not see her son. She warned him that she would close the gate for twice the duration he waited if he insisted on challenging her. Unfazed by her determination, Lord Shiva resolved to wait indefinitely, convinced that one day he would witness Krishna’s divine form when he grew up and roamed freely.
Krishna, observing the exchange from inside the house, relished the idea of his two devoted followers contending over his presence. He sought to demonstrate that the love of devotees in the mood of parental affection surpasses that of servitude. Lord Shiva represented the epitome of servitorship, while Mata Yashoda embodied pure parental love for Krishna. Both were ardent devotees, but the bond of parental affection held a deeper connection.
Thus, Lord Shiva gracefully yielded to Mata Yashoda’s determination, acknowledging the superiority of her love. Accepting defeat, Lord Shiva left Mata Yashoda’s house, feeling disheartened. He reached the banks of the Yamuna River, sat down, and immersed himself in meditation, contemplating the extraordinary ways in which Krishna manifests his divine will.
Meanwhile, Krishna, aware of Lord Shiva’s dissatisfaction, began to cry inconsolably. Despite the attempts of the cowherd boys and girls to pacify him, Krishna’s tears continued to flow. Realizing that someone had left the house dissatisfied, a perceptive gopi named Lalita approached Mata Yashoda to inquire about the visitor who departed unsatisfied. Mata Yashoda recollected the saint with snakes adorning his neck who had desired only to see her child but left without accepting any offerings. Lalita, wise and understanding, explained that a saint should never depart dissatisfied and insisted they call him back.
Mata Yashoda provided a detailed description of the saint’s appearance, and Lalita set off to find him. After searching, Lalita located Lord Shiva and brought him back to Mata Yashoda’s house. Overwhelmed with emotion, Mata Yashoda handed the crying Baby Krishna to Lord Shiva.
As soon as Krishna found himself in the arms of Lord Shiva, he ceased his cries, opened his eyes, and beheld his devoted devotee. Lord Shiva, cradling Krishna on his lap, became submerged in an ocean of transcendental ecstasy. He addressed the Lord, acknowledging his unfathomable ways and paying homage to his supreme authority.
Expressing his profound reverence, Lord Shiva touched Krishna’s little feet to his head and recited the Gopala Sahasra Nama Stotra, a hymn consisting of a thousand names glorifying the Lord. Later, when Lord Shiva returned home, he repeated these names to Parvati, sharing the divine experience.
Recollecting his promise to Parvati, Lord Shiva remembered the butter she had requested. During his journey back to Kailash, lost in contemplation of Krishna, Lord Shiva inadvertently consumed all the butter he had intended to bring for Parvati. Unaware of this, he handed Parvati an empty container upon his return.
Parvati, disappointed, pointed out that the container was devoid of butter. Lord Shiva, taken aback, realized his mistake and confessed that he had unknowingly eaten all the butter while thinking about Krishna. Parvati playfully remarked that since he had not brought any prasadam for her, no one would partake of his prasadam either. Since then, any offering made to Lord Shiva is considered ‘Shiva-Naivedya’ and ‘Shiva-Nirmaalya.’ These offerings are regarded as sacred and are not to be taken back or consumed once they have been presented to Lord Shiva.
The story serves as a profound lesson for all devotees, highlighting the different flavors of devotion and emphasizing the immeasurable potency of love in attracting the Supreme Lord. Lord Shiva’s willingness to submit to Mata Yashoda’s unwavering determination demonstrated the exalted nature of her love and devotion. The tale stood as a testament to the wondrous ways in which the Lord reciprocates with his devotees, forever illuminating the path of bhakti, or loving devotion, for all those who earnestly seek the shelter of his divine lotus feet.
