🔱 Did you know? Lord Shiva Ji longed to join Krishna’s divine Rāsa-līlā! ♥️ So intoxicated with Krishna’s pastimes, he prayed to Yogamaya Paurnamasi for permission to enter the Rāsa dance in Vrindavan. She instructed Shiva Ji to bathe in Brahma Kunda, and after emerging, he was transformed into a beautiful Gopi. He then went to the place where rasa-lila was being performed and hid there in a grove. However, as the Rāsa-līlā began, Krsna and the gopis sensed that a different mood had come.
The gopis began to look around. They spotted a gopi with three eyes! The gopis surrounded the new gopi and questioned her—“Who is your mother? What is your village? Who is your husband?” Shiva Ji was unable to answer.
Realising something was amiss, the gopis began to punch the new gopi. He began to cry out for mercy, and Paurnamasi intervened. “She is the object of my mercy.” Krishna lovingly appreciated his devotion, and granted him an extraordinary service—“From today, you shall be known as Gopeshwar Mahadev, the eternal guardian of the Rāsa-līlā.” 🦚❤️ Even today, before entering the Rasa-sthali in Vrindavan, devotees have to first seek the blessings of Gopeshwar Mahadev! 🙏
From ‘Siva-tattva’ – Sri Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja Ji –
When Krsna desired to perform His rāsa dance, Śrīmati Radhikā, the embodiment of His pleasure potency, manifested from His left side and Gopīśvara Mahādeva manifested from His right side. The form of Śiva who lives in Kāśī or Kailāsa in the material world is a partial manifestation of the original Sadāśiva in Vrndāvana.
📖 vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.13.16)
“Among all the Vaishnavas, Lord Shambhu (Shiva Ji) is the greatest!” 🔱✨
🔱 Shiva Ji is the greatest of Vaishnavas! In every place in Vraja he is present. In Vrindavan, Nandgao, Barsana Govardhan, everywhere. Let’s pray to him for pure Krishna Bhakti this Mahashivratri! 🕉️🔱
