Daily Devotion - Feb 15, 2026 (English)- The Bhole Paradox
Shankar Ji has a name - Āshutosh. The word "āshu" means "quick", and "tosh" means "One who becomes pleased." Thus, "Āshutosh" refers to one who is pleased quickly and easily. This is why people also call him "Bhole," meaning innocent or simple-hearted. However, Shankar Ji is God - omniscient and omnipotent. How, then, can He truly be bole, or naïve?
The account of Bhasmasur -
The demon Bhasmasur became infatuated with Bhavāni, the divine consort of Lord Shankar. However, he did not possess the strength to abduct her. Therefore, he devised a plan. He thought, "I shall practice devotion to Lord Shankar, and when He appears before me, I shall ask Him for a boon." He performed intense austerities, and Lord Shankar appeared before him. Indeed, God appears through devotion - prem teṅ prakaṭ hohiṅ Bhagavānā.
Shankar Ji said to him, "Ask for a boon."
Bhasmasur replied, "Please grant me this boon: whoever's head I place my hand upon shall be reduced to ashes."
At that moment, Shankar Ji granted the boon without deliberating much.
Thereafter, Bhasmasur began pursuing Lord Shankar Himself, thinking, "If I reduce Him to ashes, then Parvati Ji will be mine."
Shankar Ji fled to Shri Krishna and said, "I have granted him a boon, and now he has started pursuing me to use the boon against Me."
Shri Krishna asked Bhasmasur, "Is what He says true?"
Bhasmasur replied, "Yes, He has given me a boon, but I wish to see whether this boon truly works or not." Then Shri Krishna deceived him, saying, "Is it such a difficult thing to check? Simply place your hand upon your own head and test it!" Bhasmasur fell for his words, placed his hand upon his own head, and was instantly reduced to ashes.
In this manner, Shankar Ji's life was saved.
From this incident, people concluded that Lord Shankar is Āshutosh - one who is quickly pleased. For this reason, bilva leaves are offered to Him, and a vessel with a small opening is placed above Him so that a continuous stream of water flows upon Him -
jaladhārā priyaḥ śivaḥ - water is dear to Lord Shiva. The sacred water of the Ganga flows eternally from his head.
Yet all of this is simply what is spoken externally. Whether it is Lord Shankar, Shri Ram, or Shri Krishna, none of them bestow grace without complete surrender and devotion.
In the Bhagavatam, Parikshit asked, "Who is the greatest among the devotees of Shri Krishna?"
Shukdev answered:
Nimnagānāṁ yathā gaṅgā devānām achyuto yathā
Vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ purāṇānām idaṁ tathā
Among all rivers, Ganga Ji is supreme. Among all worshipable deities, Shri Krishna is supreme. And among all devotees of Shri Krishna, Shankar Ji is supreme.
Thus, Shankar Ji is the greatest among all devotees. Tomorrow is His Shivaratri; therefore, one must certainly worship Him.
