Do You Know That Lord Shiva Took Avatara as a Hunter Once?

It was during the vanavasa of the Pandavas—endless miseries. One more year of ajnatavasa remained.

Vyasa Maharshi, their grandfather, visited them. He said, 'Duryodhana is a cheat, very cunning, and flanked by the likes of Shakuni. Do not expect him to return your kingdom willingly. You will have to fight to claim your right.

'However, veterans like Bhishma and Drona are on his side. It will not be an easy battle. Your talent and ordinary weapons are insufficient. You will need divine weapons—divyayudhas. Arjuna must please Lord Shiva and obtain the Pashupatastra. It is a lethal and deadly weapon. Lord Shiva is the lord of battles and weapons.'

Vyasa Maharshi gave the deeksha of the Shiva mantra to Arjuna, who then went to the Himalayas and began observing intense tapas.

As his tapas progressed, Arjuna abandoned food and survived only on water. After some time, he gave up even water and subsisted on air. During summer, he performed tapas with fire all around and the blazing sun above—this is called panchagni. In winter, he stood neck-deep in freezing water.

Indra became worried. 'What is Arjuna up to? Is he eyeing my position?' he wondered. Only through intense austerities can one attain Indrahood. Indra sent apsaras to distract Arjuna, but he did not even look at them.

Arjuna’s tapas became so intense that all the worlds began to burn from the heat it generated. Everyone approached Shankara and pleaded with him to intervene.

Bhagawan Shiva is kshipraprasadi—easily pleased—but he does not grant boons easily. He tests the devotee thoroughly before bestowing blessings. Perhaps his past experience with Bhasmasura played a role.

Bhagawan disguised himself as a hunter (kirata), and Devi Parvati as his wife. The term kirata means hunter. They came to the jungle where Arjuna was performing tapas.

Meanwhile, Duryodhana learned about Arjuna’s tapas to acquire divine weapons. Determined to stop him, he employed an asura named Mukasura to disrupt Arjuna’s tapas.

Mukasura transformed into a wild boar and charged at Arjuna. Hearing the commotion, Arjuna opened his eyes and saw the wild boar rushing to attack him. He quickly took out an arrow and shot at the boar. At the same moment, the kirata also shot an arrow at the boar. The boar fell dead.

Arjuna approached to retrieve his arrow, but the kirata was already there. The kirata asked, 'Why are you stealing my arrows? Do you not have arrows of your own?'

Arjuna replied, 'This is my arrow. I killed the animal.'

The kirata retorted, 'Do not lie. I killed the animal.'

Arjuna, deeply offended, said, 'You accuse me of lying? Do you know who I am? I belong to the faultless Chandra vamsha!'

The kirata mocked him. 'What has the Chandra vamsha to do with you? Your father is Indra, and your elder brother Yudhishthira’s father is Dharmaraja. How do you belong to the Chandra vamsha? Whom are you trying to fool?'

Arjuna’s anger boiled over. The kirata continued, 'All of you five brothers share one wife. Why? Could you not find more wives? Were no other families willing to marry their daughters to you?

'If you want, I can find women from our clan. Each of you can have a wife of your own. What nonsense is this? Today, a wife; tomorrow, like an elder sister; the day after, like a younger sister. Do you people have no sense of Dharma? I will get you as many wives as you want.'

Enraged, Arjuna shouted, 'You do not know who I am! I am Arjuna, the greatest archer in the world!'

The kirata replied, 'Yes, I know all about you and your brothers. Duryodhana kicked you all out, and now you sit here in the forest like a saint, smearing ash on your body and pretending to be a Maharshi. There is no other way for you now. You cannot even go near your kingdom. Duryodhana will finish you!'

Furious, Arjuna shouted, 'You fool! Do you even know what tapas is? I am here to perform tapas!'

The kirata laughed. 'Yes, I know what you are doing. And look at whom you are praying to! Shiva—a beggar god, wandering around on an old, ailing bull, living in cremation grounds. Truly an ideal god for you!'

This was the last straw. Arjuna took out an arrow and shot it at the kirata.

A fierce battle ensued, with both raining arrows upon each other. Devi Parvati intervened, warning Arjuna, 'You are making a mistake. This is no ordinary hunter. This is Lord Shiva himself!'

Arjuna, consumed by frenzy, did not listen. Devi declared, 'May all the arrows that fall upon the Lord become flowers.' Instantly, all of Arjuna’s arrows turned into flowers. Then she said, 'May Arjuna’s quiver become empty.' Soon, Arjuna ran out of arrows.

In desperation, Arjuna struck the kirata on the head with his bow. Ganga Devi, who adorns the Lord’s head, snatched the bow and threw it away. Arjuna began punching Bhagawan with his bare hands.

After some time, the Lord decided it was enough. He picked up Arjuna, bundled him up, and threw him far away. Arjuna fell unconscious.

When he awoke, tears streamed down his cheeks. How could a mere hunter defeat him? His body was in severe pain, and his spirit was broken.

In his despair, Arjuna made a Shivalinga out of mud and began worshipping it, despite his deep physical and emotional pain.

Finally, Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati appeared in their true forms. Devi lovingly ran her fingers through Arjuna’s hair, easing his pain. His arrogance vanished, and he humbly apologized for fighting with the Lord.

Lord Shiva, pleased with his devotion and repentance, granted him the Pashupatastra and blessed him with success.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi