Shiva and the Hunter

A poor hunter lived in a forest. One day, he wandered far in search of game. Evening fell and darkness spread. To protect himself from wild animals, he climbed a bael tree. He did not know that a Shivalinga sat beneath that very tree. The hunter stayed awake all night so he would not fall. To keep warm, he kept plucking bael leaves and dropping them below. The leaves fell right onto the Shivalinga. Tears from his eyes, caused by the cold, also dripped down onto the sacred stone like an offering of water. Without knowing it, the hunter had performed a complete worship of Lord Shiva throughout the night — offering bael leaves, water, and keeping an all-night vigil. At dawn, Lord Shiva appeared before him. The hunter was frightened and folded his hands. Shiva smiled and said that the hunter had unknowingly performed true worship. Shiva blessed the hunter and forgave all his sins. This story is connected to the festival of Mahashivratri, when devotees stay awake through the night worshipping Lord Shiva.