Mahadevji - Lord Shiva in Vrindavan

Gopeshwar Mahadev

I had recently been to Vrindavan and upon my visit to the holy place realised the fact “Vaishnavanam Yatha Shambu”. It is said that Lord Shiva is the greatest Vaishnava. So, no wonder where Krishna is doing his pastimes, Lord Shiva is there. We see a proof of this in Braja Mandala ,Vrindavan where Lord Shiva appears as Mahadev, Keshtrapal (Protector of Dham).Thus, it is said that anyone visiting Braj requires to take the permission of Mahadev to enter the dham. Featured Photo is taken at the entrance of one of the famous Shivji temple in Vrindavan, called as Gopeshwar Mahadev, where Lord Shiva is dressed as a Gopi. The pastime is that one time Lord Shiva, along with mother Parvathi visited Vrindavan during the pastimes of Lord Krishna and wanted to enter the Rasa Lila dance of Krishna with Gopis. Lord Shiva was stopped and was explained that in Vrindavan pastimes, there is only one Purusha or the enjoyer and the rest are Prakriti or the enjoyed, existing purely to serve the Lord. Lalitha Sakhi, a confidential sakhi of Radha rani took Lord Shiva to a Kund (pond) and asked him to take a dip. Once he came out of the Kund he transformed into a beautiful Gopi.

And there are so many other temples of Lord Shiva like, Chakleshwar Mahadeva near Manasi ganga at Govardhan, Nandishwar Mahadeva in Nandgaon and Bankhandi Mahadev in Vrindavan, Kundeshwar Mahadev in Radha Kund, Kedareshwar Mahadev, the Kedarnath temple located in a remote corner in the Braj mandala parikrama marg, Kameshwar Mahadev and many others.

Even in  Mathura Lord Shiva’s temples surround the town in all the four corners. There are 4 Shiva lingas located in the four corners to protect the city, called as the dik-pala of Mathura. They are namely, Gokarnesvara Mahadeva in the north, Pippalesvara Mahadeva in the east, Rangesvara Mahadeva in the south and Bhutesvara Mahadeva in the west.

Aasheshwar Mahadev

Aasheshwar Mahadev

 The below photos are from a place called Aasheshwar Mahadev, near Nandgaon where Lord Shiva sat down in meditation with Aasha – a hope or desire to get a darshan of baby Krishna. The story goes that, once Lord Shiva visited Nandgaon disguised as a Babaji covered with ashes and snakes hanging around his neck and knocked the door of Nana baba. Mother Yashodha was shocked to see the form of Babaji and feared that her little baby Krishna would be scared to see this Babaji, she refused to show him. Then Mahadev left that place and at a distance sat under a tree and started meditating on the form of Baby Krishna for his darshan. Meanwhile, Lord Krishna who is the Supersoul and Paramatma understood the desire of Shiva and suddenly started crying incessantly. Then, the woman folk of the village explained to Yashoda Mataji that probably, she might have offended the Babaji by not letting him have look at baby Krishna. Then, Mother Yashoda took baby Krishna to the place where the Babaji was meditating and immediately upon seeing him, Krishna started smiling happily.Mother Yashoda requested the Babaji (Shiva) to live permanently in Nandgaon so that Krishna is always happy. And, Shiva agreed to stay on the condition that everyday, the prasadam of Krishna is given to him. And, it is a custom that is still followed today at Nandgaon temple.