MAHADEV!!

MAHADEV!!

Shiva, Loved by millions from time immemorial, is also called Mahadev- Great God or God,of Gods. 
A member of our group asked for a story: How did he become that? 
My answer is that He did not 'become' that, He was ALWAYS that.
It is only the Acknowledgement of this reality on the part of the others that can be thought of as a time that they titled Him Mahadev and he started being “called “ that.

Now, when was this time? Who titled Him As the God of all Gods?
Was it when Brahma and Vishnu started trying to scout the Linga of fire, and realised that they could not Fathom His Beginnings or end?

Was it When Daksha, the haughty father in law realised that Shiva Himself , was the very essence of the Veda Yajna which he deployed to show Shiva down?

Was it when No other God could Withstand the Impact of Ganga Coming to Earth from Heaven, and Shiva easily received her on His Matty Hair and then trickled Her down Gently to quench the thirst of all creation?

Are you getting the point- Shiva has always been Mahadev! it is only The acknowledgement that makes it clearer. God Has always been God, our title does not make Him that!
Shiva is timeless, His stories abound on thousand lips and million hearts. So, according to me there can be no real verification of when the title came. Only a favourite story 

So all I can share with you about this deep Question, is just my own favourite story Of Shiva that showed Him as Mahadev. And that is the Drinking of poison at the time of Samundra Manthan, the churning of theOcean. Who else can ever do this , but a true Mahadev?
And here is the story I like:

“Now, it is my turn to ask”, smiled the Yogi. “Why did you choose me?”

“Although God is one, His attributes are different in His different manifestations. Your form held a particular appeal for me. I was awed both by your appearance and character. Here was a lord, with no kingdom, no material acquisitions, no riches, nothing, yet he was bestowing gifts upon others. Here was a God sitting serenely in meditation, a technical God? Someone who loved his wife and children, and was so much at ease with Nature. Someone who loved the forests and the hills, the rivers and the springs and all the beings, that lived in them. I loved the way you let your hair hang loose, and was intrigued at your informal attire. I was particularly taken in by your spirit of sacrifice. It is said, that once all the Gods and demons, realised that there was ambrosia in the Ocean. But they had to churn the Ocean for this ambrosia. Casting their differences aside, they made teams, and using a mountain for the churner, and Vasuki, the largest snake available, as a rope, they churned the Ocean. All was well, till they realised, that as a result of production of ambrosia, venom would also be produced, in sizeable quantity, by the vomiting of Vasuki, after such an ardous task. This too, had to be disposed by consuming, in accordance with the laws of Nature. No one dared to consume their little portions of the venom. Everyone was interested only in the ambrosia. You stepped forwards and consumed the whole of the venom, because it was of prime importance to you, that all must get ambrosia, even if it meant your death. Thereafter they realised, that you were ‘Mahadeva’ Lord amongst lords.”

{From The Yogi and the snake by Shail Gulhati}