The Call of Krishna’s Flute Once, while deep in meditation on Mount Kailash, Lord Siva heard the enchanting sound of Krishna playing His divine flute. The sweet melody captivated him, pulling him into a state of deep samadhi. Unable to resist, he followed the transcendental sound, which led him to the sacred land of Vrindavan, where Lord Gopinath was preparing to commence the Maha Raas-Lila with His beloved gopis.
Siva’s Desire to Join the Raas-Lila Arriving at the entrance of the rasa-sthali, Lord Siva was eager to join the divine dance. However, he was stopped by Yogamaya, who told him, “No males except Krishna are allowed to enter. To join the Maha Raas, you must first take the form of a gopi, a Vraja milkmaid.” Intrigued, Lord Siva asked, “How can I obtain the form of a gopi?” Yogamaya advised him to seek the shelter of Vrinda Devi, who could grant him the desired form.
Transformation into a Gopi Following Yogamaya’s advice, Lord Siva approached Vrinda Devi, who instructed him to bathe in the waters of Manasarovara in Vrindavan. After emerging from the lake, Lord Siva found himself transformed into a beautiful gopi. With his new form, Vrinda Devi led him to a secluded corner of the rasa-sthali, where Lord Siva stood in prayer, seeking prema-bhakti from Sri Sri Radha Krishna.
Siva Joins the Raas-Lila As the Maha Raas began, Lord Krishna danced with all the gopis, including Lord Siva, who was disguised as a gopi. For some time, the dance continued in perfect harmony. However, after a while, Krishna felt that something was amiss. He remarked, “I’m not experiencing the usual pleasure from our rasa. It seems there is another man among us.” He then instructed Lalita Devi to check all the gopis and ensure that no man was hiding among them.
Krishna Discovers the Gopi with Three Eyes Lalita Devi meticulously checked each gopi, lifting their veils, but found nothing unusual—until she came across a gopi with three eyes. Puzzled, she reported back to Krishna, who asked her to bring this gopi to Him. When Krishna saw the gopi, He burst into laughter and addressed her, “O Gopisvara, I am very pleased to see you in this form. But you know that this rasa is not meant for householders. Since you have fulfilled your desire to participate, I now offer you the position of the gatekeeper of the rasa. From now on, all gopis will offer their respects to you and seek your blessings to attain gopi bhava.”
The Origin of Gopisvara Mahadeva This pastime, as described in the Garga Samhita, explains how Lord Siva came to be known as Gopisvara Mahadeva. As the controller (isvara) of the gopis, Krishna appointed him as the guardian of the entrance to the rasa dance, granting him a special role in the eternal pastimes of Vrindavan. Henceforth, no one could enter the rasa-mandala without first obtaining the permission of Gopisvara Mahadeva.
The Significance of Worshipping Gopisvara Gopisvara Mahadeva holds a unique place in the hearts of the devotees in Vrindavan. Krishna Himself declared that all the gopis must offer respect to Lord Siva and seek his blessings to attain gopi bhava. The Srimad Bhagavatam mentions that the gopis worshiped Lord Siva in Vrindavan, praying that he bless them by granting Krishna as their husband. This worship is not just a formality but a heartfelt prayer to enhance their devotion and love for Krishna.
The Vaishnava Perspective on Lord Siva As the greatest of Vaishnavas, Lord Siva is revered by devotees who understand his exalted position. A Vaishnava’s visit to Lord Siva’s temple differs from that of a non-devotee; they see him as being both one with and different from the Supreme Lord, similar to the relationship between yogurt and milk. While everything is part of the Absolute Truth, not everything is the Absolute Truth itself. This understanding is encapsulated in the phrase, “vaishnavanam yatha shambhu”—Lord Siva is the highest Vaishnava.
Prayer to Gopisvara Mahadeva Devotees often recite the following prayer, seeking the blessings of Gopisvara Mahadeva to attain love for the divine couple, Sri Sri Radha Madhava:
“vrindavanvani pate jaya soma soma
maule sanandana sanatana naradeya
gopishvara vraja vilasi yuganghri padme
prema prayaccha nirupadhi namo namas te“
Translation: “O Shiva, O gatekeeper of Vrindavan! O you who are accompanied by Uma! O you who carry the moon in your hair! O lord worshiped by Sananda-kumar, Sanat-Kumar, and Narada Muni! O Gopishvara, the worshipable deity of the gopis! Desiring that you bestow upon me love for the divine couple, Sri Sri Radha Madhava, who perform joyous pastimes in Vraja, I offer my obeisances unto you again and again.”
Moral of the Story:
The story of Gopisvara Mahadeva beautifully illustrates the deep connection between Lord Siva and the pastimes of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. It teaches us that devotion to Krishna is the highest aspiration, and even Lord Siva, the greatest of Vaishnavas, desired to participate in Krishna’s divine play. His role as the gatekeeper of the rasa dance reminds us of the importance of seeking blessings from the devotees of the Lord to advance in our spiritual journey. Worshiping Lord Siva in the mood of a devotee, as Gopisvara Mahadeva, can help us develop pure love for Radha and Krishna, the ultimate goal of life.
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