At the time of Ashvamedha Yagya of Shri Ram Ji, Ram Bhakta Hanuman was entrusted with the task of protecting the horse of the Yagya and the soldiers engaged in it. Hanumanji is an incarnation of Lord Shiva, we all know this, but very few people know that the battle of Hanumanji and Lord Shiva was fought.

When Lord Shri Ram performed the Ashwamedha Yagna, the horse of the yagna wandered and reached the city named Devpur. The name of the king of that city was Veeramani. Veeramani was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, so Lord Shiva himself protected Devpur.

Rukmangad, son of Veeramani, took the captive when he saw the horse of the Yagya. When Shatrughna, who was protecting the horse, came to know about this, he decided to attack Devpur. A fierce battle broke out between the army of Shatrughan and King Veeramani.

Hanumanji also started killing Veeramani's army. When Raja Veeramani, son of Shri Ram's brother Bharata, injured Raja Veeramani, his army started fleeing after saving its life. When Lord Shiva saw this situation of his devotee, he too started fighting in his favor.

Shatrughna also came to see Lord Shiva at war. There was a fierce war between the two. Lord Shiva sent Virbhadra from Pushkal to Nandi to battle Hanuman. The war of Virbhadra and Pushkal lasted for five days.

Finally, Virbhadra killed Pushkal. Shatrughan was very sad to see this. Shatrughan became angry and started fighting with Shiva. Their war lasted for 11 days. At the end, Shatrughna fainted by Lord Shiva's stroke. Seeing this, Hanumanji started fighting with Shiva himself.

Hanumanji asked Shiva that if you are a Ram devotee then why are you fighting with us. Shivji said that- I have pledged to protect King Veeramani his kingdom, therefore I am obliged to do battle. After this a fierce war took place between Hanumanji and Shiva.

Pleased with Hanumanji's might, Shivji asked him to ask for a boon. Then Hanumanji said that - Bharat's son Pushkal has been killed in this battle and Shatrughna is also unconscious. I am going to take Sanjeevani medicine on Dronagiri mountain, till then you protect their body. Shivji gave him this boon.

Why Lord Shiva and Hanuman fought

Here, Hanumanji immediately came to Dronagiri mountain and again came to the battle ground after taking Sanjeevani medicine. With that medicine, Hanumanji revived Pushkal and also made Shatrughan healthy. Shatrughan and Shiva started fighting again.

When Shatrughna did not win by Shiva in any way, Hanumanji asked him to remember Shree Ram. Shatrughan did the same. Shriram immediately appeared in the battlefield.

Seeing Shri Ram coming, Lord Shiva also went to his shelter and asked the warriors like Veeramani to do the same. Veeramani also returned the horse to Yagya to Shri Ram and handed over his kingdom to him. That is how the war ended.