Avatar of Lord Shiva: Yatinath Avatar

LORD SHIVA

    Lord Shiva has incarnated many times to save world from demons and sometimes to take test of his devotees.In this Avatar of Lord Shiva of Yatinath ( a hermit or sage),Lord Shiva tested devotion of his Devotee Ahuka and his wife.So the story of this incarnation goes like this..

STORY OF YATINATH AVATAR :

      In ancient times a Bhil named Ahuka lived near Arbudachal mountain with his wife.  Both were great devotees of Lord Shiva. One day the Bhil went far in search of food for his wife . In the evening, Lord Shiva  came to his house in the form of a sanyasi named Yatinath for the examination of devotion of Bhil and his wife.  

    Then that Bhil also came back to his home and he came with little food.  He and his wife worshiped and taken care of  Yatinath with great love and devotion because he believed that the guest is the form of God. 

    To test the bhil Lord Shiva in form of Yatinath asked him ,"O bhil, Give me a place to stay with you tonight as it very late for me to go somewhere else. I will leave in the morning."

  Bhil and his wife started thinking that we do not have so much space, what should we tell the guest, in this his wife started saying," Swami,I can understand your thinking but we have to respect the guest.  There is only space worthy of two men in our house." Bhil's wife again says "Swami, both of you stay inside the house happily.  I will stand outside carrying weapons to guard from wild animals." 

     Hearing the words of his wife, Bhil, not considering it appropriate to keep the woman outside, decided to stand outside himself and kept Swamiji inside the house and stood outside and started guarding him.  In the night, the hunter animals killed and ate the Bhil.In the morning seeing this incidentand bhilni crying, the sanyasi( yatinath ) felt very sad.

    Seeing the Yatinath sad, Bhilani said patiently," Please don't you be sad. Bhilraj has sacrificed himself in performing his duty, he became blessed and grateful. I will follow them by burning in the fire of his pyre.  You happily prepare a pyre for me."

     The yatinath arranged a pyre for that Bhilani. When she was going to enter in the pyre,seeing her live for his husban, at that time Lord Shiva appeared before Bhilani in his original form and gave her a direct vision of his original form and he revived Bhilraj.

   Lord Shiva praised their firmness in religion and gave them the boon that my swan form will appear in your future birth.  He( lord Shiva ) will make mutual union of both of you husband and wife.  Your husband will be the best son of King Virsen in the capital of Nishad country.  

      At that time he will be known as Nal and you will be born in Vidarbha city as Damayanti, daughter of Bhimraj.  Both of you will go to my holy Shivlok, rare for great yogis, after enjoying the best of royalty.  Saying all this Lord Shiva became situated there in the linga form.

   Bhil and Bhilini did not deviate from his religion,thats why Lord Shiva gave them a boon and in the second birth, he( bhil ) became the son of Veerasen in the Bhil Nishadha country and became famous as Maharaj Nal and bhilini became his wife named Damayanti, the daughter of King Bhima of Vidarbha city. 

     Yatinath Shiva appeared in the form of a swan at that time.  He( Lord Shiva ) got Nal married with Damayanti.  Lord Shiva took the form of a swan and brought the message of both of them to each other and gave them happiness.  After this,living happily their life both of them got husband and wife Shivlok.

   Lord Shiva tests his devotees, but at the same time maintains his grace on them.Lord Shiva's Leela is unparalleled.Whoever is devoted to Lord Shiva with whole heart, Lord Shiva is always there  to help them.

MENTIONED IN :

Yatinath Avatar of Lord Shiva is mentioned in following text:

1. Shiv Mahapurana

                                                      || OM NAMAH SHIVAAY ||

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