Rurudruha (Guha) Maha Shivaratri story
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Just before moving towards to know about “What is the story of Maha Shivaratri (Rurudruha) (Guha)“, let us know few basic information about the beautiful Lord Shiva family.
Lord Shiva is the head of this family. His consort name is Sri Parvati Devi.
They have two sons namely Ganesha and Kartikeya.
Ganesha has divine elephant face, while Kartikeya has 6 heads and thus Kartikeya is known as as ‘Shanmukha’.
(Here Shan + Mukha. Here Shan = 6 and Mukha = face).
They all stay in a divine place called Kailasha.
With all these four of them, there are multiple other divine people living in Kailasha.
Few of the names are Nandi, Bhringi, many Ganas etc.
Lord Shiva’s mount is Nandi, Sri Parvati Devi’s mount is divine Lion, Ganesha’s mount is Mushaka (divine Mouse) and Kartikeya’s mount is Mayura (divine Peacock).
Now let us know briefly about Shivaratri: Shivaratri is the tithi (lunar day) on which Sri Brahma Deva and Sri Maha Vishnu had shown us why we need to worship Lord Shiva.
Here Shivaratri = Shiva + Ratri = Lord Shiva’s + Night. This is the day of Lord Shiva’s night.
A vrata (divine ritual) is a special religious rite that is performed.
A vrata observed on Shivaratri (the night dedicated to Lord Shiva) is particularly important.
It brings undying punya (divine deeds).
On this day, one stays up at night and prays to a Lord Shiva Linga.
All followers of Lord Shiva has to observe a fast the whole day.
Now, Let us know “What is Shivaratri story (Rurudruha / Guha)” as given below:
In earlier day, there used to be a hunter named Rurudruha. He was not at all righteous.
In fact, he was quite evil and cruel. He killed many deer and he was also a robber and thief.
Naturally, Rurudruha knew nothing about Shivaratri vrata.
But it happened to be Shivaratri day, when the hunter’s parents, wife and children felt very hungry.
They asked Rurudruha to go and get some meat, so that they can enjoy the meals.
The hunter went to the forest to kill a deer, but could not find any.
It was already evening and no game was to be seen.
Rurudruha found a water-hole and decided that he would keep a vigil there.
Sooner or later, some animal was bound to turn up. He climbed up onto a bilva tree that was by the side of the water-hole.
And in case he should feel thirsty, he kept a pot full of water next to him.
Rurudruha, the hunter
Here he waited for his prey. Soon a doe turned up to drink water.
The hunter picked up his bow and arrow.
When he did so, the tree shock and a few bilva leaves fell on a Linga that was right under the tree.
Bilva leaves are sacred to Lord Shiva. Some water spilled from the pot and also fell on the Linga.
Rurudruha off course, did not know about this. But the doe saw the hunter.
Don’t kill me right now, said the doe. My children and husband are at home.
Let me go and bid them farewell. When I return, you are welcome to kill me.
The hunter was in no mood to let the doe go. He told, “Does an animal return to be killed?”
But the doe took an oath and Rurdruha let her go. After a short while, another doe turned up to drink water.
The two does were sisters and both of them married to the same deer.
As before, the tree shook and bilva leaves and some water fell on the Linga.
Rurudruha, unknowingly putting bilva leaves on Lord Shiva Linga.
The doe saw the hunter and said, wait for sometime before you kill me. Let me say goodbye to my husband and children.
The hunter was reluctant to let the doe go. But the second doe also took an oath that she would return.
So Rurudruha decided to wait.
After the doe had gone, the deer turned up to drink water.
And when the hunter picked up his bow and arrow, bilva leaves and water again fell on the Linga.
The deer said, Hunter, let me go now. I will come back and you can kill then. I wish to bid adieu to my two wives and children.
The deer also took on oath that he would return and Rurudruha let him go.
After some time had passed, the two does came back and the also deer came to where Rurdruha was.
Each said, kill me and spare the others. They need to stay alive to look after the children.
The baby deer had also accompanied their parents. They said, kill us. We don’t wish to stay alive when our parents are gone.
The hunter was so surprised at these developments that the tree shook again. Bilva leaves and water fell on the Linga.
Lord Shiva now took pity on Rurudruha and removed all evil thoughts from the hunter’s mind.
The hunter spared the deer.
Lord Shiva himself appeared before Rurudruha and said, from now on your name will be Guha.
You will be so blessed, that Bhagavan Sri Rama will become your most favourite guest.
This story demonstrates that even if Shivaratrivrata is performed unconsciously, great punya (good deeds) is obtained.
And just imagine if we do the pooja and show bhakti to Sri Shiva, how much punya we will get.
PS: Please note that here Sri Maha Vishnu been the Bhagavan and Sri Brahma Deva been the father of Lord Shiva has shown us how we need to have bhakti in Lord Shiva.
Bhagavan Sri Maha Vishnu doesn’t need to do pooja of anybody as he is the svayam Bhagavan.
And also Sri Brahma Deva does the pooja of only Sri Maha Vishnu and Sri Mahalakshmi Devi and doesn’t need of doing pooja of anybody else.
But this is just to show us the ordinary people on how we need to do pooja of Lord Shiva and how we can get the blessings of Lord Shiva.
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SRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA
OM Namah Shivaaya
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
Sri Krishnaarpanamastu