Barbarik: Khatu Shyam

Hare Krishna

The Story of Barbarik is from the time of Mahabharat. The Pandavas wandering forest after saving their lives met a demoness named Hidimba. She wanted to have Bheem as her husband. By the order of Mother Kunti, Bheem and Hidimba got married, from which Ghatotkach was born. The son of Ghatotkach was Barbarik who was more powerful and elusive than his father. Barbarik was a worshiper of Goddess. With the boon of the Goddess, he had received three divine arrows which pierced their target and returned back. Because of them Barbaric had become invincible.

During the war of Mahabharata, Barbarik was coming to Kurukshetra with the intention of seeing the war. Shri Krishna knew that if Barbarik joined the war, the result would be against the Pandavas. To stop Barbarik, Shri Krishna disguised himself in the form of a Poor Brahmin. Becoming ignorant, Shri Krishna asked Barbarik who you are and why you are going to Kurukshetra. In response, Barbarik told that he is a charitable warrior who can decide the Mahabharata war with only one of his arrows. When Shri Krishna wanted to test him, he shot an arrow which pierced all the leaves of the Peepal tree. A leaf was under Shri Krishna's feet, so the arrow stopped above his feet.

Shri Krishna was amazed by Barbarik's ability and wanted to prevent him from participating in the war by any means. For this, Shri Krishna told Barbarik that you are very mighty, you will not donate anything to me poor. When Barbarik asked for donation, Shri Krishna asked Barbarik for his head. Barbarik understood that this is not a Brahmin but someone else and asked to give the real introduction. When Shri Krishna gave his real introduction and told him who he really was, Barbarik happily accepted donating his head.

By performing prayers and worship throughout the night and taking bath on Phalgun Shukla Dwadashi, Barbarik donated his head to Shri Krishna with his own hand. Before donating the head, Barbarik had expressed his desire to see the war with Shri Krishna, so Shri Krishna installed Barbarik's severed head at a high place to watch the war. At the end of the war and victory of Pandavas Shri Krishna asked Barbarik's wish, with great satisfaction Barbarik replied that he just need Moksh (Salvation). Shri Krishna was pleased with his devotion and gave a boon to the severed head of Barbarik that, "In Kalyug you will be worshiped by my name Shyam, only by remembering you, the devotees will get welfare and religion, meaning, work, salvation will be attained". Shri Krishna also gave a boon saying that, "No one can change the fate of the person in whose fate I have written sorrow, but the fate of the devotee who has come under your spell will also change".

At present he is known as Khatu Shyam or Baba Shyam who is considered to be appeared from the Shyam Kund located in Khatu Dham after the visions. Shri Krishna is fulfilling the wishes of the devotees by being situated in the temple of Khatu Shyam ji since Samvat 1777 in the form of Virat Shaligram.

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Radhe Radhe!!!