It is popularly believed that the Pandavas, after their victory in the Mahabharata wished to pay homage to lord Shiva to atone for gotra hatya – killing their kin, the kauravas. At kedarnath, seeing the Pandavas coming, lord Shiva disguised himself as bull. However the Pandavas saw through this disguise. Realizing that the disguise has not worked the bull tried to thrust itself into the ground. Bhima tried to hold the bull to prevent it from vanishing.