Shivratri Stories - King Chitrabhanu

There are many stories extolling the celebration of Shivratri

The Story of King Chitrabhanu

Once there lived a vitreous king named Chitrabhanu who ruled over the kingdom of Jambudvipa. One year on the festival of Shivratri, the king and his wife were observing fasting in honor of Lord Shiva.

That day the king was visited by sage Ashtavakra. The sage asked the king why he was observing fast. The king explained the reason for fasting and narrated a story from his previous birth. Here goes the story –

In my previous birth I was a hunter named Suswara. I lived in Varanasi and killed animals and birds to earn living. One day while hunting in the forest, I lost my way. Soon it became dark and I took shelter on a tree. It happened by matter of destiny that the tree was a sacred Bhel (Bilva or Bael or Bel) tree. I had corpse of a deer which I had hunted that day. I tied the corpse to a thick branch of tree.

I kept awake the whole night and was tormented by hunger and thirst. When I thought about my wife and children who were waiting for me and were probably starving, I had tears in my eyes. While these thoughts kept me troubling, I started plucking the bhael leaves and dropped down them casually. 

At day break, I started on my way back to home. I sold the deer and bought food for my family and myself. The previous night was a night of fasting for me. When I was about to eat food, a beggar came to me asking for food. I first gave him the food and then ate myself.

After few days I was deep unconsciousness, nearing my end.  At this moment, Shiva enlightened me and I gained spiritual consciences. There were two messengers of Shiva standing by my side. They came to take me to the abode of Lord Shiva. They told me, ‘Though you have committed many sins during your lifetime by killing animals and birds, you sins have been forgiven by Shiva. The night you were lost in the forest, your tears washed the Shiva Lingam hidden under foliage. Your dropped bhael leaves on it, and fasted that night. Next day you gave food to needy before you ate it. It was the night of Shivaratri and Shiva poured his blessing on you. We come to take you to the abode of Shiva as a boon to you to end this sinful life of yours’.

When I reached Shiva’s abode, I served him for many years and got rid of my sins. Shiva blessed me and I was in clan of Ikshvaku dynasty as Chitrabhanu’.

The above story of King Chitrabhanu was narrated by Bhishma when he laid on the arrow bed.