15 Best And Interesting Lord Shiva Stories For Kids
As per Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva has different names. The other names of Lord Shiva are “Maheshwara”, “Shambhu”, “Shankara”, “Kailashavasi”, “Virupakshaya”, “Bhaktavatsalaya”, “Trilokeshaya”. The three major gods Brahma is responsible for the creation, Vishnu is responsible for maintenance, and Shiva is responsible for the destruction of the universe. Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva. This year Maha Shivaratri fell on 8th March in 2024 and Next Maha Shivaratri falls on Wednesday, 26th of Feb in 2025. Here, we have discussed the various stories of Lord Shiva to read to your kids. Let’s read.
15 Interesting Lord Shiva Stories For Kids
Here are the interesting and top stories about Lord Shiva, read to your kids, they will love these stories.
1.The Birth of Lord Shiva Story
According to the Puranas, once Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, and Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, were engaged in a debate about who was superior among them. As they argued, an enormous pillar of fire appeared before them, extending infinitely into the cosmos. Brahma and Vishnu were perplexed and decided to find the end of the pillar.
Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and flew upwards, while Lord Vishnu transformed into a boar and dug deep into the Earth. After a long search, they failed to reach the end of the pillar. At that moment, Lord Shiva emerged from the pillar of fire, revealing his true form.
Lord Shiva is often depicted as the embodiment of supreme consciousness and formless existence. His birth from the fiery pillar symbolizes his transcendental nature and his timeless presence beyond the boundaries of the physical universe.
The story of the birth of Lord Shiva highlights his role as the destroyer of ignorance and illusion, as well as his association with divine knowledge and spiritual enlightenment. It emphasizes the concept of Shiva as the ultimate reality, beyond comprehension or limitation.
Lord Shiva is also referred to as Swayambhu (meaning ‘self-existing’) because he was not born from the womb of a woman. This is an interesting and mysterious story behind the birth of Lord Shiva.
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2. Lord Shiva And His First Wife Sati Story
As per mythology, Sati was the first wife of Lord Shiva. Sati was the daughter of King Daksha, a powerful and influential ruler. Sati was deeply devoted to Lord Shiva and wished to marry him. Despite her father’s disapproval, she remained steadfast in her love for Shiva and eventually married him.
However, King Daksha held a grand yagna (sacrificial ritual) and invited all the deities and celestial beings except Lord Shiva. Sati, saddened by her father’s disrespect towards her husband, decided to attend the yagna against Shiva’s advice.
Upon reaching the yagna, Sati was met with further humiliation and insults from her father. Unable to bear the dishonor, she self-immolated in the ceremonial fire. The news of Sati’s sacrifice reached Lord Shiva, plunging him into immense grief and anger.
Enraged by the injustice done to Sati, Lord Shiva tore a lock of his hair and struck it against the ground. From this act, Virabhadra, a fierce and powerful warrior, emerged. Along with Virabhadra, an army of divine beings known as the ganas stormed the yagna, causing chaos and destruction. Daksha tried to escape, but he was decapitated by Virabhadra.
The gods, realizing their mistake and the severity of the situation, pleaded for Lord Shiva’s forgiveness. Shiva, consumed by grief, agreed to end the destruction but vowed to withdraw from worldly affairs and isolate himself in deep meditation. He carried Sati’s lifeless body on his shoulders and wandered across the universe in inconsolable sorrow.
The story of Sati’s sacrifice and Lord Shiva’s subsequent deep meditation highlights themes of love, devotion, and the destructive power of anger.
3. Marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvathi Story
Himavatha, the ruler of Himalayas, and his wife Menaka were great devotees of God Shiva. They asked for a daughter, who could marry the deity. Menaka performs 3 days long penance to appease goddess Gowri Devi, the first wife of Lord Shiva. Gowri Devi was impressed and promised Menaka to take birth as their daughter and jumps into the fire to be reincarnated as Parvati. This leaves Lord Shiva heart-broken and he goes into a long penance to mourn the loss of his beloved wife.
One day, Sage Narada visits Hemavatha’s place to see the Parvathi and forecasts that she would marry God Shiva. As she grows, she spends the whole day praying to God Shiva. Impressed by her devotions, Lord Shiva decides to test her. So, he visited her place as a brahmin. He tells Parvati not to marry a poor, but she strongly said that she will marry only Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva pleased with her answer and came back to his original and acknowledged her marriage proposal. Thus Lord shiva gets her wife back.
4. Lord Shiva And The Fisherwoman
Lord Shiva starts explaining the Vedas to Parvathi for several years. One day she lost her concentration and Lord Shiva curses her to go to the earth and to take the birth as the fisherwoman.
She takes her birth as a baby girl. The chief of the fishermen community, Parvaras takes her to his home and names her as Parvathi.
Lord shiva misses his wife a lot, Seeing him like that, Nandi suggests Lord Shiva call her back. But he said he can not do that. As per her birth, she is destined to marry an angler.
Later Nandi planned to reunite Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Then he transforms as a big shark and troubles the fishermen. Then Parvaras announces that who kills the big shark, will get married to his daughter Parvathi. Parvaras and Parvathi pray to Lord Shiva to help. Then Lord Shiva turns into a younger fisherman. Nandi happily gets caught by Lord Shiva. This way Lord Shiva and Parvathi remarries.
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5. Birth of Lord Shiva’s Daughter, Ashoka Sundari
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi were taking a stroll in the Nandanavana garden. Parvathi often feels lonely when Lord Shiva go out of the Kailash mountain to fight with the evil forms. So she wishes for a daughter from the Kalpavriksha in the garden. A daughter is born to Parvathi and named her as Ashoka Sundari. She witnessed when Lord Shiva beheaded Lord Ganesha. She got scared of that and she became a sack of salt. Later Lord Shiva pacifies her and gets her back to normal.
6. Lord Shiva And The Halahala Poison
One day, sage Durvasa curses all gods to lose their powers. They went to Lord Vishnu and he says to churn the ocean to retrieve nectar that can help to bring back their powers. The gods partner with the demons and start churning the ocean. During the churning process, they found many things including “halahala poison”, which can destroy the entire universe.
All gods approach God Vishnu and he en routes them to God Shiva, as he is the only one to save them. Lord Shiva drinks the poison but squeezes his throat tight to prevent the poison from spreading the entire body. The halahala poison turns into blue in his throat. Hence, he called as Neelakantha.
7. Lord Shiva’s Third Eye
There is an interesting story behind Lord Shiva’s third eye.
One day, Lord Shiva was meditating. Parvathi thought of playing a game with Lord Shiva. She came from behind and closes his both eyes. It is believed that the right eye of Lord Shiva represents the sun and the left eye represents the moon. Closing his eyes, made the universe into darkness. Immediately he created the third eye on his forehead to emit fire. the heat from the fire caused Parvati’s hands to perspire. The sweat combined with the powers of God Shiva and Goddess Parvathi, transformed into their child named Andhaka.
Then he was named as “Trilochan” as he has three eyes.
8. Ravana Shakes Mount Kailash
Ravanasura is a great devotee of God Shiva. But evil-minded Ravana tries to pull down mount Kailash. His attempt fails. Lord Shiva gets angry and he traps Ravan under the mount Kailash.
Then Ravana starts praying to Lord Shiva. He cuts one of his heads to make a veena and uses the tendons as strings to play music. This goes on for several years before Shiva is impressed. At last, Lord Shiva forgives Ravana and sets him free.
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9. The story of Sudarshana Chakra
One day, all gods approached Lord Vishnu to save them from rakshasas. He says he does not have powers but Lord Shiva can save you from Rakshasas. All the gods went to Lord Shiva but he was in a deep trance. They do not want to disturb them. Then Lord Vishnu decides to pray Until Lord Shiva comes out of his trance. Lord Vishnu chants his name a thousand times every day by offering one lotus flower for every time. One day Lord Shiva comes out of his trans, but Lord Vishnu did not realise it. God Shiva decides to play a trick and removed one flower. Lord Vishnu completes 999 times and realizes one lotus is missing. So immediately he plucks out his eye and offers it at the feet of God Shiva.
Impressed by Lord Vishnu’s devotion, Lord Shiva tells him to ask for a boon. Lord Vishnu asks him to give the power to defeat the rakshasas to save all the gods. Lord Shiva gives him a round disc, called the ‘Sudarshana Chakra’, which has the power to kill anything. This the story of Sudarshana chakra.
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10. Lord Shiva And Bhasmasura Story
Here is the story of Why does Lord Shiva cover his body with ash?
In the Himalayas, there was a rakshasa named Bhasmasura. He spent several years meditating to please God Shiva. Impressed by his devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before him and offers a boon.
The clever Bhasmasura asks, “Lord, grant me the boon that whatever I touch with my right hand will turn into ashes immediately.” Shiva grants the boon not realizing the evil intentions of the Bhasmasura. Rakshasa wants to test his boon on Lord Shiva to turn him into ash thus to gain the supreme power. Lord Vishnu witnesses this and decides to save God Shiva from the Brahmaputra. Lord Vishnu turns into a beautiful woman named Mohini and appears before rakshasa. Her mesmerizing beauty makes him fall for her and proposes to her. Mohini tells him to dance and defeat her, and then she will marry him.
Bhasmasura agrees and follows every step of Mohini. As his confidence keeps increasing, Mohini does a step by putting her right hand on her head. With overconfidence, Brahmasura forgets about his boon and puts his right hand on his head. Immediately, he turns into ash.
11. Why Lord Shiva is Under Feet of Kaali Maatha
According to Hindu mythology, once upon a time, the world was plagued by a demon named Daruka, who terrorized the people and caused widespread destruction. The gods and goddesses approached Lord Shiva for help, but he was in deep meditation and did not respond to their pleas.
Kali, who was an incarnation of Durga, the goddess of power, took on the task of defeating Daruka. She engaged in a fierce battle with the demon, ultimately slaying him and saving the world. In the aftermath of the battle, Kali became overwhelmed with the thrill of victory and began to dance in joy, causing earthquakes and shaking the very foundations of the earth. The other gods and goddesses were frightened and approached Lord Shiva for help.
Lord Shiva lay down on the ground and Kali stepped on his chest, calming her down and bringing her back to her senses. In this pose, Lord Shiva is depicted lying under the feet of Kali, symbolizing the power of creation and preservation being subordinated to the power of destruction and dissolution.
12. Lord Shiva and Vasuki Story
According to the story, Vasuki was once the mount (or rope) used to churn the ocean of milk by the gods and demons. During the churning process, the serpent was pulled so tight that he began to suffer and cry out in pain.
Lord Shiva, who was present at the scene, took pity on Vasuki and offered to ease his pain. He coiled himself around the serpent, providing comfort and support.
From that day on, Vasuki and Lord Shiva became close friends. Vasuki pledged his loyalty to Lord Shiva and offered to serve him in any way he could. Lord Shiva accepted Vasuki’s offer and made him the king of all serpents.
13. The Snake around Lord Shiva’s Neck Story
According to Hindu mythology, once upon a time, there was a great battle between the gods and demons over a pot of amrita, the elixir of immortality. During the battle, a drop of amrita spilled onto the ground and was consumed by a serpent named Vasuki.
As a result of consuming the elixir, Vasuki gained immense power and strength, and soon became a threat to both the gods and the demons. The gods and demons approached Lord Shiva for help, as they believed that he was the only one who could subdue Vasuki.
Lord Shiva accepted their request and approached Vasuki, who was initially afraid and tried to flee. Lord Shiva, however, caught him and wrapped him around his neck, taming the serpent and exerting control over his power.
From that day on, Vasuki remained around Lord Shiva’s neck, symbolizing the power and control that Lord Shiva has over life and death. The serpent is also seen as a representation of the cyclical nature of existence, as it symbolizes both creation and destruction.
14. The Crescent Moon on Lord Shiva’s Head
Once upon a time, the moon was waning and losing its brightness. This caused the world to suffer from darkness and chaos, as the moon was responsible for regulating the cycle of time and providing light to the world.
The gods and demons approached Lord Shiva for help, as they believed that he was the only one who could save the moon and restore order to the world. Lord Shiva agreed to help and decided to place the moon on his head, as he had the power to regulate and control its cycle.
From that day on, the moon remained on Lord Shiva’s head, waxing and waning according to his will. The crescent moon symbolizes the divine power and control that Lord Shiva has over the natural world and the cycle of time.
15. Lord Shiva’s Meditation Story
Lord Shiva decided to withdraw from the world and enter into deep meditation. He withdrew to the Himalayas and sat in a meditative posture, completely absorbed in his thoughts and completely still.
Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, and still, Lord Shiva remained in meditation, unmoved and absorbed in his thoughts. The world around him was in chaos and the gods and demons were suffering, as Lord Shiva was the source of stability and balance in the universe.
The gods and demons approached Lord Shiva and tried to disturb him from his meditation, but their efforts were in vain. Lord Shiva remained still and focused, completely absorbed in his thoughts.
Eventually, the gods and demons realized that Lord Shiva was meditating for the benefit of the universe and decided to wait patiently for him to emerge from his meditation. When Lord Shiva finally emerged, he was filled with a newfound power and strength, which he used to restore balance and stability to the world.
The Five Fundamental Forms of Shiva
Here are the 5 Fundamental Forms of Shiva:
- Panchamukha or “five-faced” Shiva, who represents the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether.
- Nataraja, the “king of dancers,” who represents the cosmic dance of creation and destruction.
- Ardhanarishvara, the “half-female” form of Shiva, which represents the unity of male and female energies.
- Bhairava, the fierce form of Shiva who represents destruction and terror.
- Uma-Maheshwar, the form of Shiva who represents cosmic union and the unity of the individual self with the universal self.
Lord Shiva Stories – FAQs:
Who is Lord Shiva?
Lord Shiva is one of the main deities of Hinduism, worshiped as the Supreme Being in Shaivism. He is considered to be the destroyer of evil and the transformer within the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine.
What are the various names of Lord Shiva?
Lord Shiva is known by many names in Hinduism, including Mahadeva, Mahesh, Shankar, and Bhole Nath. He is also referred to as Rudra, the god of storms and hunting, and as Neelkanth, the blue-throated one.
What are the symbols associated with Lord Shiva?
The symbols associated with Lord Shiva include the lingam (a phallic symbol), the trident (trishula), the drum (damaru), the snake, and the bull (Nandi).
What are the main festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva?
The main festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva are Maha Shivaratri, Karthik Purnima, and Tripurari Purnima.
What are the main characteristics of Lord Shiva?
Lord Shiva is known for his many powerful and distinctive characteristics, including his blue throat (due to having swallowed poison), his long, matted hair, his third eye, and his association with the serpent. He is also depicted as carrying a trident, a drum, and a damaru (a small hand drum).
What is the symbol of Lord Shiva?
The symbol of Lord Shiva is the Linga, which represents the universe and the ultimate reality. The Linga is often depicted as a cylindrical stone that is worshipped as a symbol of Lord Shiva’s power and divinity.
What is the significance of Lord Shiva’s dance?
Lord Shiva’s dance, also known as the Tandava, is a powerful and energetic dance that symbolizes the cyclic nature of creation and destruction. It is said to be the dance of the universe, and is performed by Lord Shiva to express his joy, his power, and his control over the forces of nature.
What is the significance of Lord Shiva’s lingam?
The lingam is a cylindrical stone that is considered to be the symbol of Lord Shiva and is worshiped as a representation of his power and divinity. The lingam represents the universe and the ultimate reality, and is said to be a symbol of Lord Shiva’s phallus.
What is the relationship between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu?
Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are considered to be the two main deities in Hinduism, and are often depicted as working together to maintain balance in the universe. Lord Vishnu is seen as the preserver of the universe, while Lord Shiva is seen as the destroyer.
Why is Lord Shiva known as the destroyer?
Lord Shiva is known as the destroyer because he is responsible for destroying the old and the evil, making way for new creation and growth. He is also responsible for destroying ignorance and illusions, and is seen as the ultimate reality that ultimately consumes everything.
These are the different stories of Lord Shiva. Hope you enjoy reading these stories, Let us know what your favourite story is. Do comment below!
