34. Kirāta incarnation of Śiva

According to the Purāṇas, after losing their kingdom to Suyodhana in the gamble, pāṇḍavas went to Dvaita forest along with their beloved wife Draupadī. Arjuna went to the Indrakīla mountain to propitiate Indra by his penance. Indra went to Arjuna assuming the form of a celibate and said that he will not be able to help him for achieving victory over the Kauravas because of Aśvatthāman who is a part of Śiva. Then Indra advised Arjuna to propitiate lord Śiva by his austere penance so that his desire could be fulfilled. Thereafter Arjuna started to please Śiva. At that time, there came a demon named Mūka, to kill Arjuna instigated by wicked Suyodhana. Mūka came in the guise of a boar. Śiva had disguised himself as a hunter (Kirāta) and came to Arjuna to protect him from that boar. Both Arjuna and Śiva discharged their arrows at the same time and their arrows pierced through the body of the boar. As a result the boar was killed. Then a quarrel took place between Śiva, who was in the guise of a hunter, and Arjuna, about whose arrow had stuck the boar first. Śiva engaged in a battle with Arjuna. Arjuna achieved victory over the gaṇas of Śiva. Śiva was impressed at his bravery and revealed his true identity to Arjuna. Pleased by Arjuna’s penance and bravery, Śiva gave his Pāśupata weapon to Arjuna.^[1]