Koosu and Lord Shiva

Shivaswami was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Every day he would go to the local Shiva temple and offer prayers and worship the Lord, twice a day.

 In the morning, he would take with him a pot of milk as an offering to the lord. In the evening, he would sing songs of the greatness of lord Shiva. He sings, Shiva is everywhere and dwells in our heart and fills the whole universe! 

 His little daughter named Koosu would listen to this song and the stories that her father narrated. She would join him in singing the songs.

One day, Shivaswami had to go outside the village for some work. So he called Koosu and explained to her that he would be away for a day. Hence he asked her whether she would be able to take milk to lord Shiva tomorrow morning. 

Koosu gladly agreed, and Shivaswami proceeded on his journey.

Next day, Koosu got up early in the morning. She took a dip in the village pond and milked the cow, and went to the temple. 

There was no one in the temple. She walked inside and said to the lord that she had brought milk for Him. 

Just then, a jangama, walked inside the temple. Jangama is another word for a wandering sanyasi (holy man).

 He had come from a distant place and was very tired and hungry as he had not eaten for many days. 

Due to hunger and thirst, he fell down in front of the Shiva Linga.

 Koosu ran up to him and sprinkled some water on his face. The jangama opened his eyes. Koosu addressed the jangama as Shiva and asked whether he was hungry! 

She offered milk to the  jangama. But he was too weak to even lift the pot! Koosu herself fed him milk.

Slowly, the jangama regained some strength.

Then she bowed to the Shiva Linga in the temple and hurried home. 

By the time, Koosu reached home, her father had already returned. He was surprised to see that his daughter returned with an empty vessel.

So he asked that whether Koosu had taken milk with her for the lord. 

 Koosu answered in the affirmative and showed him the empty vessel. She confirmed that Shiva drank all the milk and not a drop was left!  

Shivaswami was taken aback thinking that all these years Shiva did not drink from his hand. Then how come He drank the milk from his daughter's hand in just one day! 

He could not believe it. He thought Koosu was lying or she may be day dreaming. Shivaswami was determined to find the truth! 

The next day, it was Shivaratri. He asked Koosu to take milk to Shiva once again. He followed her quietly to find out the truth.  

On the way, Koosu came across a hungry dog. The dog looked very weak and lean and could hardly walk! It wagged its tail smelling the milk in Koosu's hands. 

Koosu addressed the dog as Shiva and said that he would be hungry! Saying so she said that she had got milk for him!  

The dog licked up all the milk. Koosu patted the poor dog with great love.

Shivaswami was stunned to see what his little daughter was doing! He said to himself that he only sang that Shiva is present everywhere.But his innocent daughter actually saw Shiva in everyone!  

Koosu turned back and saw her father standing. 

She asked that whether he was coming with her to the temple! 

Shivaswami hugged his daughter and tears came out rolling from his eyes and his voice choked. Together they went to the temple to offer prayers to the lord Shiva. 

As Koosu led her father to the temple,Lord Shiva smiled!