Lord Shiva --- A story from Kena Upanishad and Shiva maha Purana.

Yaksha Swaroopaaya Jataadharaaya
Pinaaka Hasthaaya Sanaatanaaya
Divyaaya Devaaya Digambaraaya
Tasmai 'Ya' karaaya Namah Shivaaya
(Shiva Panchakshari Stotram)

Meaning: Prostrartions to the sacred Lord who is the Yaksa incarnate, whose hairs are long and matted, who holds Pinaaka (trident) in His hand, who has the entire sky as His attire and who is embodied as the letter 'Ya'.

===== OM Namah Shivaya =======

After Khseera sagara madanam, the Devas got Amrutam. The devas became very strong and easily defeated the Asuras. The Devas thought that it was their own strength which was responsible for the Victory over Asuras. They forgot altogether that it was only by the grace of Lord Shiva,the absolute brahman. The Devas started feeling very proud about their strength. They said to themselves :

"vijayo'smakamevayam mahimeti " ( ie., "Verily, this victory is ours; verily, this glory is ours only.")

Lord Shiva ,the omniscient, decided to teach the Devas a lesson. So he appeared before Devas in form of an Yaksha. The Gods decided to know about this new creature.


Lord Shiva In the form of Yaksheswara

te agnimabruvanjataveda etadvijanihi kimidam yakshamiti tatheti

The devas asked Agni Deva : "O Agni! Find out who this great Spirit is."

Agni deva :"Yes,"

Agni Deva
tadabhyadravattamabhyavadatko'sityagnirva
ahamasmityabravijjataveda va ahamasmiti

Lord Shiva who's in Yaksha form, asked him: "Who are you?"

Agni deva said : "I am known as Agni; I am also called Jataveda."


tasmimstvayi kim viryamityapidam sarvam
daheyam yadidam prithivyamiti

Yaksha said: "What power is in you, who are so well known?"

Agni deva replied: "I can burn all— whatever there is on earth."


tasmai trinam nidadhavetaddaheti |
tadupapreyaya sarvajavena tanna shashaka dagdhum sa tata eva
nivavrite naitadashakam vijnatum yadetadyakshamiti


Iswara put a straw before him and said: "Burn this."

Agnideva rushed toward it with all his ardour but could not burn it. Then he returned from the Spirit and said to the gods: "I could not find out who this Spirit is,"

atha vayumabruvanvayavetadvijanihi
kimetadyakshamiti tatheti

Then the devas said to Vayu : "O Vayu! Find out who this great Spirit is."

Vayu deva said : "Yes," , then he hastened to It.

Vayu Deva

tadabhyadravattamabhyavadatko'siti vayurva
ahamasmityabravinmatarishva va ahamasmiti

Parameswara asked him: "Who are you?"

Vayu replied : "I am known as Vayu; I am also called Matarisva."


tasmimstvayi kim viryamityapidam
sarvamadadiya yadidam prithivyamiti

Lord shiva said: "What power is in you, who are so well known?"

Vayu replied: "I can carry off all— whatever there is on earth."

tasmai trinam nidadhavetadadatsveti
tadupapreyaya sarvajavena tanna shashakadatum sa tata eva
nivavrite naitadashakam vijnatum yadetadyakshamiti

Brahman put a straw before him and said: "Carry this." He rushed toward it with all his ardour but could not move it. Then he returned from the Spirit and said to the gods: "I could not find out who this Spirit is,"

athendramabruvanmaghavannetadvijanihi kimetadyakshamiti tatheti
tadabhyadravattasmattirodadhe

Then the gods said to Indra: "O Maghavan! Find out who this great Spirit is."

Indra said: "Yes," and hastened to It.

Indra
sa tasminnevakashe striyamajagama bahushobhamanamuma
haimavatim tamhovaca kimetadyakshamiti

But the Lord shiva disappeared from him. Then Indra beheld in that very region of the sky a Woman highly adorned. She was Uma, the daughter of the Himalayas. In order to marry Lord shiva, she was doing severe penance. Uma knew the supreme nature of Lord Shiva.

Uma devi, The Daughter of Himalayas

Indra approached her and said: "Who is this great Spirit?"

sa brahmeti hovaca brahmano va etadvijaye mahiyadhvamiti
tato haiva vidancakara brahmeti

tasmadva ete deva atitaramivanyandevanyadagnirvayurindraste
hyenannedishtham pasparshuste hyenatprathamo vidancakara brahmeti

Parvati replied : "It is, indeed,Absolute Brahman Shiva . Through the victory of Brahman alone have you attained glory." Later, she taught Indra about the supreme nature of Lord Shiva. After that Indra understood that It was Brahman(Lord Shiva).

tasmadva indro'titaramivanyandevansa
hyenannedishtham pasparsha sa hyenatprathamo vidancakara brahmeti

Since they approached very near in comprehending the Supreme nature of Lord Shiva and were the first to know that the Yaksha was Brahman(shiva) , these devas, namely, Agni, Vayu and Indra, excelled the other gods.