God is called Bhakt-Vatsal because he looks tenderly at his devotees. Lord Mahadeva is always alert for protection of his devotees and he quickly responds to his devotee’s call. As a cow comes running when her cub cries out, as parents constantly wish for children’s welfare, similarly universal father Lord Mahadeva is always willing good for us. In spite of thousands of imperfections in the child, a mother never counts a single one as real. Lord Mahadeva owns a heart similar to a mother and thus he accommodates everyone without distinction.

Normally the elite class of people never like to associate with inferiors, and this system is more prevalent in marriages etc. Only the alliance join there with great pomp and show. But Mahadeva did nothing like this. He got mixed with all kinds of awful creatures like Bhoota, Preta, Betala, Yaksha, Kinnar, Nag, Asura, Danav and Daitya etc. Whether others appreciate it or not, but Shiva never rejected his friends. In his marriage procession the participants were generally the ghosts, with a variety of strange physical appearances. Some of them are mentioned here—Ekamukhi, Dwimukhi, Udarmukhi, Shoolmukhi, Bahumukhi, Ekapad, Tripad, Bahupad, Kabandh, Kankal, Viritanan etc. Shiva’s affection towards his devotees is manifested by his nature of honoring everyone.

In this world there is no one equal to Shambhu in mercy and compassion. A little of prayer and lots of boons! Therefore he bestows sense-gratification (Bhoga) and liberation (Moksha) even to the offenders. An endless feast of Moksha at Kashi is a proof itself. There he never discriminates between sinful or pious. He equally distributes the mantra of deliverance i.e. ‘Namah Shivaya’ and makes them free from bondage. Therefore the mode of Shiva’s worship is also very simple, and it is stated that—

मूर्तिर्मृदा बिल्वदलेन पूजा अयत्नसाध्यं वदनं च वाद्यम्।
फ़लं च यत् तत् मनसोभिलाषं निःसेव्य विश्वेश्वर एव देवः॥

An idol is made out of clay, a little water is offered, few bilva-tree leafs are offered, and then a goat-like sound is produced from mouth; thus Lord Mahadeva is easily pleased and tremendous result is obtained that all your desires are fulfilled. Hence we say—highest gains at lowest price. This is possible because Lord Bholenath is Bhakt-Vatsal. Apyaya Dixit says—

अर्कद्रोण प्रभृतिकुसुमैरर्चनं ते विधेयं।
प्राप्यं तेऽज स्मरहरफ़लं मोक्षसाम्राज्यलक्ष्मीः॥

If one worships you with an ordinary dandelion flower, you grant him liberation or an empire even. Actually there is dearth of nothing for God, so he perceives your devotion, not the value of the offering. Is there any dearth of water for Lord Gangadhar, that he will wait for water from us? Is Lord Trinetra sitting in darkness without any light, that he will wait for mustered oil from us? Is he starving for food, that he will wait for fruits and sweets from us? One who is giving everything to the world, what can we offer to him? We offer things which are already owned by him. Still he showers the rain of mercy upon us, so he is named as Bhakta-Vatsal. Shiva favors every individual but he is more affectionate to his devotees because a devotee is like his Vatsa, a kid.

दासानुरस्यावपसीति तर्णकान् भक्तात्मकानोदनबालकोभयम्।
पोषाय गृह्णास्यथ तेषु सौहृदं पुष्णासि तस्मादसि भक्तवत्सलः॥

Purport: You accept your devotees as child and embrace them to your chest. You simultaneously accept rice and child, so that you may feed the child for sustenance. You are Bhakta-Vatsala due to your excessive love towards your devotees. Seeing the kindness of the Lord, one devotee says—“O Lord! I know the secret behind your roaming in the mountains. It is because that you want to step over my rocky heart.”

एष्यत्येष जनिं मनोऽस्य कठिनं तस्मिन्नटानीति मद्
रक्षायै गिरिसीम्नि कोमलपदन्यासः पुराभ्यासितः
नो चेद्दिव्यगृहान्तरेषु सुमनस्तल्पेषु वेद्यादिषु
प्रायः सत्सु शिलातलेषु नटनं शम्भो किमर्थं तव ॥

Purport: Hey Shambhu! You think that— “This poor devotee will take rebirth due to his hard heartedness. So I will constantly wander in his heart, to make my footprints firm and steady there.” So you started wandering in the mountain-caves just to protect your followers. Otherwise you would have been sitting just at one place, and not just roaming in caves, bushes and mountains. You do all this out of compassion for your devotees.