In Mithila, Lord Shiva is still worshipped by this name. Once, Vidyapati wastravelling with Ugna and it was a hot summer day and Vidyapati was feeling very thirsty. Seeing no trace of water in the vicinity, Vidyapati felt helpless. Ugna offered to go out and search for water. After a while, Ugna returned with a lota (pot) full of water. Actually, Ugna who was Lord Shiva himself, pretended that he had set out to fetch water but had in fact taken out the Gangajal from the mats of his hair. When Vidyapati tasted the water he felt that this was no ordinary water and immediately felt suspicious. He accosted Ugna and Ugna had to admit His real identity by showing His real form. However, Ugna put a condition that Vidyapati should maintain complete secrecy about this episode and if he ever revealed the secret, the Lord will disappear. Sometime later, it so happened that Vidyapati's wife got very angry at her servant Ugna and started to beat him. At this instance, Vidyapati could not tolerate it and asked his wife not to beat Ugna as He was Lord Shiva Himself. No sooner Vidyapati had uttered these words, as Ugna had warned, He disappeared and was never to be seen again.

The most famous work of Vidyapati is Padavali. He wrote in Maithili, Sanskrit, Bengali, Abahattha and Brajbuli (a dialect formed with a mixtureof Maithili and Bangla). Chaitanya Mahprabhu is said to be fond of listening to his songs. He also wrote books on ethics, history, geography and law.

The genius of Vidyapati poetry is evident in his numerous songs and poems many of which have found their way in to school and college textbooks.
We present below a devotional song of (भजन ) by the poet.

सीताराम स