Gopishvara – Lord Shiva as a Gopi
Gopishvara is Lord Shiva (ishwara) in the form of a gopi milkmaid.
As Lord Shiva approached, he was stopped by a beautiful gopi who said, “You cannot join in our rasa lila. Only female gopis can enjoy this divine sport with Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is the only male permitted here.”
Lord Shiva, desperate to join in the divine revelries, bathed in the sacred Yamuna river and emerged as a beautiful gopi. Thus transformed, Lord Shiva joined Lord Krishna and the gopis in their rasa lila.
The deity of Lord Shiva as Gopishwar Mahadev was established in a small temple near Vamsivata. There, Lord Shiva is worshipped in his iconic form, the shiva-linga. Each evening, the linga is transformed into the semblance of a gopi complete with feminine ornaments and attire. A different outfit is prepared for worship every night.
Gopishvara as a shiva-linga. Gopishvara adorned as a gopi.
Devotional Stories
The story of Lord Shiva becoming a gopi is one among the hundreds of tales relating to Lord Krishna that have been narrated by spiritual teachers over the centuries. These stories are told to stir devotional fervor, bhakti, in the hearts of the faithful.
The following story is told by a famous seventeenth-century teacher, Visvanath Cakravarti, as recorded in his text, Sankalpa Kalpadruma.
Mahadev Shankara did not give up very easily. As instructed by the gopis he began to worship Yogamaya Paurnamasi (Purnima) for assistance. Purnima knowing fully well about Mahadev Shankar’s wish, instructed Him to take a dip in the waters of the holy Brahma Kund. When He rose out of its waters he was transformed into a beautiful damsel, another gorgeous gopi who found her place inside the kunj [garden] of the rasa sthala [dance grounds]. Soon after the rasa lila began, sweet love notes swept the floor of the kunj covered with the fragrance of wild flowers. But this time it left the gopis strangely uncomfortable. They had understood there had been an intrusion and were now trying to find out who was the uninvited guest.
Having come upon this gopi, with no name and no village to name from where she came, the remaining gopis attacked her with a barrage of questions. "Where are you from? Who is your husband? Who is your father in law?" This left her in a pool of tears and speechless at the same time. Yogamaya Paurnamasi has not prepared her for this onslaught of questions, for neither was her birth arranged from the womb of a gopi nor was she given a name. Nor did she marry a gopa so she was left speechless in the middle of all the commotion.
Paurnamasi's heart melted seeing the plight of Mahadev Shankar, and appeared to release the gopi from the situation. She requested the gopis and Sri Krishna to be merciful to the nameless gopi. Sri Krishna, having understood Paurnamasi's desire, gave Mahadev Shankar the name of Gopiswar and granted Him a boon that any sadhaka [spiritual aspirant] who came to Vrindavan, would not be able to enter without the blessings of Shankar Mahadev.
Vajranabha the great grand son of Sri Krishna later installed a Shiva linga at this temple. They say that a big peepul tree here is the kalpa vriksha, which fulfills all desires.
O Lord Mahadev, O Lord Gopiswar, O glorious one, salutations to you.
O Lord, one who carries the moon on his head,
Worshipped by great sages Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Narada,
O Lord Gopiswar, bless me with thy divine power,
Bestow upon me the love to seek the feet of Sri Radha Madhava
and experience the rasa lilas in Braj-dham.
I offer you my prayers at your feet forever.
O Shiva, O gatekeeper of Vrindavan! O you who are accompanied by Uma (Parvati)! O you who carry the moon in your hair! O lord worshiped by Sananda-kumar, Sanat-Kumar and Narada Muni! O Gopishwar, 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.
Original article available here .