The Hunter and the First Shivratri

In a forest lived a hunter named Gurudruha. Hunting fed his family. One day there was nothing to eat at home. He set out at dawn to hunt but found nothing all day. That day was Shivratri, though he did not even know it.

When evening came, he climbed a bel tree beside a pond, hoping some animal would come to drink at night. He had a vessel of water with him. Under the tree was a small Shivling, which he did not notice.

In the first watch of the night a doe came to drink. The hunter drew his bow. As he moved, a few bel leaves and some water from his vessel fell onto the Shivling below. The doe pleaded: let me go home and leave my young ones with someone, then I will come back. The hunter's heart softened and he let her go.

In the second and third watches the same thing happened: another doe came, then a stag. Each time he drew his bow, bel leaves and water fell on the Shivling, and each time he let them go on their promise. Without knowing it, he had fasted, kept a night-long jagran, and worshipped Shiv in all four watches of the night.

As dawn broke, the whole deer family came back to keep their word. Seeing their honesty, the hunter's heart was completely changed. He laid down his bow. Then Shiv appeared. He blessed him, named him Guh, and said that in the Treta Yuga Shri Ram himself would come to his home in Shringverpur and make him a friend. The deer family too found liberation.