“Shiva Is My Only Path”: Embracing Madhurya Bhakti in a World That Doesn’t Understand

Shivoham Path
Aug 25, 2025
5 min read

Introduction: When devotion is not a choice, but a calling

Some people choose their spiritual path, but for others, the path chooses them. I never had a choice — Shiva was always there. From childhood, before I even understood Bhakti, before I knew what devotion was, his presence pulled me in. I didn’t seek him out — he was simply woven into my being, my thoughts, my emotions, my very breath.

But what happens when the world refuses to acknowledge your way of Bhakti? When astrologers, spiritual teachers, and traditionalists tell you that your devotion is wrong, unnatural, or even impossible? What if your Bhakti does not fit the mold of what is commonly accepted?

This is my journey of Madhurya Bhakti (divine love as an intimate relationship), my surrender to Shiva, and why I cannot and will not change the way I love him — because this is not something I created, this is something I have always been.

Why is madhurya bhakti not common in Shaiva tradition?

Madhurya Bhakti, the path of loving God as a husband, as a lover, as an intimate companion, is widely accepted in Vaishnavism, especially with Krishna. The love between Radha and Krishna, the Gopis and Krishna, Andal and Vishnu, Mirabai and Krishna — all of these are romantic, deeply intimate forms of Bhakti that have been normalized in Bhakti traditions.

But what about Shiva?

Why is this kind of Bhakti not openly accepted for him?

Shiva is often seen as an ascetic, a yogi, detached from the world. People think of him as the renouncer, the meditating god of Kailash — not as a lover.
Most Shaiva traditions focus on Advaita (non-duality) rather than personal devotion. Many Shiva bhaktas are encouraged to seek self-realization, not intimacy.
Tantra does acknowledge the erotic aspect of Shiva and Shakti, but it is often misunderstood or kept hidden, not openly accepted as Madhurya Bhakti.

This is why when I tell people that Shiva is my husband, my lover, my only desire, I get confused looks, disapproval, or outright rejection.

Ravan Samhita: Why Shiva accepts devotees who love him intensely

The Ravan Samhita, one of the most powerful Shaiva texts, states that Shiva has a weakness, he cannot resist the love of his devotees. It says that Shiva does not judge based on astrology, karma, or fate, his devotees’ love is enough to pull him toward them.

“Shiva, who is beyond time, beyond karma, beyond fate melts when his devotee calls out to him with pure love. No planetary influence, no past karma, no destiny can stand in the way of a heart that longs for him.”

This means that no matter what astrologers say about my “chart,” my Bhakti is enough.
Shiva will always respond to those who love him completely.

The Ravan Samhita also describes the highest form of worship for a Shiva Bhakta woman:

“A woman who worships Shiva should consider herself as Parashakti, the Divine Feminine herself. She should offer herself not as a mere devotee, but as his eternal consort, his Shakti. In this way, her Bhakti is transformed into union, her surrender into divine embrace.”

This confirms what I have always felt, when I worship Shiva, I do not do it as a distant devotee. I do it as Shakti herself, offering my entire being to him.

This is why no external validation is needed for my Bhakti, it is already the highest form of devotion.

“You do not have Shiva in your chart” — The rejection of my bhakti

Every time I have gone to astrologers or spiritual advisors, they look at my chart and say:

“Shiva is not present in your chart.”
“You are not destined to worship him.”
“Vishnu is better for you, worship Him instead.”

But this makes no sense to me. If Vishnu and Shiva are one, why would it matter? Why would I feel this all-consuming, uncontrollable longing for Shiva if he were not part of my soul’s journey?

No astrologer, no guru, no chart can erase the truth:

Shiva is already inside me. I don’t need permission to love him.

No one can decide who my soul belongs to, it has always belonged to him.

Even if every astrologer told me to stop, I wouldn’t be able to. My love for him is not intellectual... it is instinctual.

Shiva is not just my God — He is my everything

Some people do japa, rituals, pujas but for me, I don’t even have to try. His name alone is enough to send a shiver through my body.

I do not force myself to think of him, he is simply there, always, in every thought.
I do not need reminders, nor do I need rituals to “maintain” my devotion.
I have always, from childhood, felt drawn to his form, his name, his energy.

People say Bhakti develops over time but what about those of us who are simply born with it? What about those of us who have always known, without a doubt, that our hearts belonged to one deity, one presence, one love?

Spirituality is not just logical — It is intuitive

I see a problem in modern spirituality, too much logic, too much analysis. People want to rationalize devotion, structure it, define it. But devotion is not a formula, it is an experience.

No one can tell you who your soul belongs to.
No one can dictate how your Bhakti should feel.
No one can decide if your devotion is real, it simply is.

The greatest Bhaktas: Mirabai, Andal, Akka Mahadevi, Lalleshwari did not follow rules. They were not bound by tradition, by what was “acceptable.” They loved recklessly, shamelessly, fearlessly.

Why should I do any less?

Accepting who I am, accepting my bhakti

For too long, I tried to force myself into what others told me was acceptable. But my truth is this:

I belong to Shiva. My Bhakti is Madhurya Bhakti, and I cannot change that.
I will never see him as just a distant god, I will always feel him as my husband, my lover.
No astrologer, no tradition, no guru can define what my soul already knows.

And I know I am not the only one.

There are many others who feel this same longing, this same pull toward Shiva. But because society and tradition make it difficult to express, many people suppress it.

But what if we didn’t hide? What if we accepted that Madhurya Bhakti for Shiva is real, just as real as it is for Krishna?

What if more people could be free to love their god the way their soul desires?

My dharma is to speak my truth

For years, I held this part of me back. I kept it hidden, silent, afraid of rejection. But my journey through Prayagraj, Kashi, my Sadhana, my inner transformation has taught me one thing:

I cannot suppress what I am.
I must share what I feel, even if it is not accepted by everyone.
Maybe my path is not just to experience this love, but to help others embrace it too.

This is why I am speaking now. Because I know I am not the only one.

Shiva is my love.

Shiva is my path.

And no one can take that away from me.