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Barbarika worshipped as

Khatushyamji.
Barbarika
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the Mahbhrata, Barbarika (IAST Barbarka) was the son of Ghatotkacha and Maurvi (Ahilawati),
daughter of Muru, a Yadava king. Barbarika was originally a yaksha, and was reborn as a man. Among whom
his paternal grandfather Bhima was the second one. However, he was bound by his principle of always fighting
on the losing side, which led him to stand witness to the battle without taking part. King Yalamber of Nepal is
portrayed as Barbarika in Mahbhrata.
[1]
In Rajasthan, he is worshipped as Khatushyamji, and is believed to have been sacrificed before the
Mahabharata war to ensure the victory of his grandfathers, the Pandavas. In return for his sacrifice, he was
deified by a boon given by Krishna.
Contents
1 Barbarika (Belarsen) and his dialog with Krishna
2 Krishnas leg
3 The other interpretation of three arrows
4 Act of charity
5 Bearing witness to the war
6 External links
7 References
Barbarika (Belarsen) and his dialog with Krishna
The legend begins with the Mahbhrata. Barbarika alias Khatushyamji alias Shyam was a grandson of Bhima, Second of the Pandava brothers. He
was the son of Ghatotkacha (who in turn was son of Bhima) and Maurvi. Even in his childhood, Barbarika was a very brave warrior. He learnt the art
of warfare from his mother. God Shiva, pleased with him, gave him the three infallible arrows (Teen Baan). Hence, Barbarika came to be known by
the appellation Teen Baandhaari, the "Bearer of Three Arrows". Later, Agni (the god of Fire) gave him the bow that would make him victorious in the
three worlds.
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When Barbarika learnt that battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas had become inevitable, he wanted to witness what was to be the
Mahbhrata War. He promised his mother that if he felt the urge to participate in the battle, he would join the side which would be losing. He rode to
the field on his Blue Horse equipped with his three arrows and bow.
Before the Mahabharata war began, Lord Krishna asked all the Pandavas how many days he would take to finish Mahabharata war alone. Bhishma
answered that he would take 20 days to finish the war. Dronacharya replied that it would take him 26 days. When Karna was asked, he said he would
take 24 days. Arjuna told Krishna it would take 28 day for him to complete the battle by himself. In this manner, Lord Krishna asked each warrior and
received an answer.
Krishna disguised as a Brahmin stopped Barbarika to examine his strength. When asked how many days he would take to finish the war alone,
Barbarika answered that he could finish it in one minute. Krishna baited Barbarika by mocking him for going to the great battle with only three
arrows. On this, Barbarika replied that a single arrow was enough to destroy all his opponents in the war, and it would then return to his quiver. He
stated that, the first arrow is used to mark all the things that he wants to destroy. On releasing the third arrow, it would destroy all the things that are
marked and will then return to his quiver. If he uses the second arrow, then the second arrow will mark all the things that he wants to save. On using
the third arrow, it will destroy all the things that are not marked. In other words, with one arrow he can fix all his targets and with the other he can
destroy them. Krishna then challenges him to tie all the leaves of the peepal tree under which he was standing, with those arrows. Barbarika accepts
the challenge and starts meditating to release his arrow by closing his eyes. Then, Krishna without the knowledge of Barbarika, plucks one of the leaf
of the tree and puts it under his foot. When Barbarik releases his first arrow, it marks all the leaves of the tree and finally starts revolving around the
leg of Krishna. Then Krishna asks Barbarika why was the arrow revolving around his foot. For this, Barbarika replies that there must be a leaf under
his foot and the arrow was targeting his foot to mark the leaf that is hidden under him. Barbarika advises Krishna to lift his leg, since, otherwise the
arrow will mark the leaf by pricking Krishnas leg. Thus, Krishna lifts his foot and to his surprise, finds that the first arrow also marks the leaf that was
hidden under his foot. Of course, the third arrow does collect all the leaves (including the one under Krishnas foot) and ties them together. By this
Krishna concludes that the arrows are so infallible, that even if Barbarika is not aware of his targets, the arrows are so powerful that they can still
navigate and trace all his intended targets. The moral of this incident is that, in a real battle field, if Krishna wants to isolate someone (for example:
the 5 Pandava brothers) and hides them elsewhere in order to avoid them from being Barbarikas victim, then Krishna will not be successful as the
arrows can still trace the target and destroy them. So, nobody will be able to escape from these arrows. Thus Krishna gets a deeper insight about
Barbarikas phenomenal power.
Krishna then asks the boy whom he would favour in the war. Barbarika reveals that he intends to fight for the side whichever is weak. As Pandavas
have only seven Akshouni army, when compared to Kauravas eleven, he considers that Pandavas are weak and hence wants to support them so that
Pandavas will become victorious. But Krishna asks him, did he seriously gave a thought about the consequences before giving such a word to his
mother (to support the weak side). Barbarika guesses that his support to the weaker side will make them victorious. Then, Krishna reveals the actual
consequence of his word to his mother:
Krishna tells that whichever side he supports will only make the other side weak due to his power. Nobody will be able to defeat him. Hence, he is
forced to support the other side that has become weaker due to his word to his mother. Thus, in an actual war, he will keep oscillating between the two
sides, thereby destroying the entire army of both sides and eventually only he remains. Subsequently, none of the side is victorious as he will be the
only lone survivor. Hence, Krishna avoids his participation from the war by seeking his head in Charity.
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Barbarika donates his head to
Krishna.
Krishna's leg
The other version of story tells that the first arrow indeed pricks Krishnas leg and mark the leaf that is hidden under Krishnas foot. This becomes a
weak spot of Krishna. Prior to this event, lord Krishna also gets a boon from sage Durvasa that his entire body except his leg will be immune to all
weapons. Hence, only his leg will be vulnerable. In the end of Kurukshetra war, when Krishna revives Abhimanyus son Parkishit, he loses half of his
strength, weakening him further. Later, in Mausala parva, a hunter by name Jara hits at Krishnas foot mistaking him for a deer leads to the death of
Krishna. In other words, this weak spot on Krishnas foot was first created by Barbareeks arrow.
The other interpretation of three arrows
The three arrows are signs of three "taaps" that humans experience. These include the physical, mental and emotional conflicts and confusions that are
found almost everywhere. These three "taaps" are cleared with chanting of name of Shri Krishna. Thus, giving Barabarika the name "Shyaam", the
Lord intended to remove the three taaps of human like, symbolized with the three arrows
Act of charity
The guised Krishna then sought charity from Babarika. Barbarika promised him anything he wished. Krishna
asked him to give his head in charity. Barbarika was shocked. Perceiving that all was not as it appeared, he
requested the Brahmin to disclose his real identity. Krishna showed Barbarika a vision of His Divine Form and
Barbarika was thus graced. Krishna then explained to him that before a battle, the head of the bravest
Kshatriya needs to be sacrificed, in order to worship/sanctify the battlefield. Krishna said that he considered
Barbarika to be the bravest among Kshatriyas, and was hence asking for his head in charity. In fulfilment of his
promise, and in compliance with the Krishnas command, Barbarika gave his head to him in charity. This
happened on the 12th day of the Shukla Paksha (bright half) of the month of phaagun on Tuesday. Barbarika
was a Yaksha in his previous birth. Once Lord Brahma and several other Devas came to Vaikunta and
complained to Lord Vishnu that the Adharma on Earth was increasing; it was not possible for them to bear the
tortures causes by the wicked people. Hence they came to seek the help of Lord Vishnu to check them. Lord
Vishnu told the Devas that he will soon incarnate on Earth as a human being and destroy all the evil forces.
Then, a Yaksha told the Devas that he alone is enough to kill all evil elements on the Earth, and it was not
necessary for Lord Vishnu to descend to Earth. This hurt Lord Brahma very much. Lord Brahma curses this
Yaksha that whenever the time comes to eliminate all the evil forces on Earth, then Lord Vishnu will first kill
him. Later, the Yaksha takes birth as Barbarika and Lord Krishna seeks his head in charity as a result of this
curse.
Bearing witness to the war
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Before decapitating himself, Barbarika told Krishna of his great desire to view the forthcoming battle and requested him to facilitate the same.
Krishna agreed and placed the head on top of a hill overlooking the battlefield. From the hill, the head of Barbarika watched the entire battle.
At the end of the battle, the victorious Pandava brothers argued amongst themselves as to who was responsible for their victory. Krishna suggested
that Barbarikas head, which had watched the whole battle should be allowed to judge. Barbarikas head suggested that it was Krishna alone who was
responsible for the victory. Barbarika replies, All I could see were two things. One, a divine chakra spinning all around the battle field, killing all
those who were not on the side of Dharma. The other was Goddess Mahakali, who spread out her tongue on the battle field and consumed all the
sinners as her sacrifice". Listening to this, Pandavas realise that it was Lord Narayan and Goddess Mahamaya who actually cleaned up the world from
Adharma, and the Pandavas were mere instruments.
His other name is God Kamrunaag and is treated as the Biggest and main god in District Mandi, in Himachal Pradesh. A pond and a temple are
situated in Kamru hill in Sundernagar, District Mandi.He witnessed the entire battle of Mahabharat from the hill which is now known as Khatu
Shyamji located in Rajasthan, Sikar District
External links
References
^ http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/02-13/features2739.htm 1.
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Categories: Characters in the Mahabharata
This page was last modified on 21 June 2014 at 18:30.
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