Lord Shiva - A Pure Vaishnava

Most of the people take Lord Shiva in another way by intoxicating themselves and whatever they want for their own sense gratifications, but Lord Shiva has a very unique quality and he always busy in the welfare of others as we can see how He drank poison and saved entire world and keep chanting Lord's holy name to please Lord Krishna. But unfortunately these qualities of Lord Shiva we never want to see and implement in our own life.

In Srimad Bhagwatam (12.13.16) it is mentioned:

निम्नगानां यथा गङ्गा देवानामच्युतो यथा ।
वैष्णवानां यथा शम्भु: पुराणानामिदं तथा ॥ १६ ॥

Just as the Ganga is the greatest of all rivers, Lord Acyuta the supreme among deities and Lord Sambhu [Lord Shiva] the greatest of Vaishnavas, so Srimad-Bhagavatam is the greatest of all Puranas.

It is said that, "If someone left his body in Kashi then he is liberated and the reason behind it is when people die Lord Shiva goes and chant Krishna's holy name in their ear."

I am sharing a very nice story of Lord Shiva and his devotee King Chitrabhanu.

When Bhismdeva was lying on the death bed and Pandwas with Krishna and most of the sages come to see Bhismdeva. Bhismdeva was teaching to King Yudhishthira about how to be Good King, Varna and Ashram Dharma, how to care of old people, Children and Women and how by following the Varna and Ashram Dharma we can develop love of God.

Bhismdeva started glorification of Lord Shiva by narrating a story of King Chitrabhanu. In his past life King Chitrabhanu was A hunter name called Sushwara. His style was to kill animals by singing songs and attracting them and then kill. He was fully involved in very sinful activities.

One day when he went for hunting and half day gone only he got one dear and he was awaiting for one more animal to come, but due to heavy rain, he was unable to find any other animals and this way he awaited and forgot his time.

And finally he thought I had to spend my night in this forest only and he climbed on a tree. He was worried about his family thinking they must be hungry and this way whole night he started plucking leaves from the tree and started crying and this way he spent the whole night.

After his death, he went to Lord Shiva's Abode and everyone started congratulating them and surprisely he asked to Lord Shiva, I never worshiped you then how come you pleased with me?

Lord Shiva smiled and said to Sushwara, "My dear Sushwara do you remember? one day you were in a forest and did not get any animals and you spent the whole night in forest on the tree and you started plucking leaves and crying the whole night. That night was Maha Shivaratri and that is my favorite day and if someone offers me Bilb leaf and water I pleased with that person and that day you were not aware below, there was shiva linga and the tree you climbed was Bilb tree and your tears and Bilb leaves were dropping on my head, so this way you pleased me and I became very happy."

So, here we can see even without knowledge if someone offered Bilb leaves and a little water to Lord Shiva, He pleased very soon, so what to speak if someone do in concisousely. That is why Lord Shiva's another name is Ashutosh mean who please very soon.

Let's pray to Lord Shiva let us show His mercy upon all of us to be a pure devotee.

Wish you all a very happy Maha Shivaratri.