As the God would
have it, when Hidimba reached there, she lost her heart to Bhim,
who was in the guise of an alert guard. Now she had only one wish
which gained strength with the passage of time. She thought, "Why
should not I accept this lion in human form as my husband. There
could not be better blessing for me than this." Since it was
getting late, Hidimb himself reached the place. First, he scolded
his sister because of seeing Bhim; she had forgotten her demonical
nature and had adorned an attractive form. From this, Hidimb could
realise that his younger sister had developed a soft feeling in
her heart for Bhim. There was no limit to Hidimb's anger and he
told his sister that he would kill immediately all the Pandavas
and also teach her a good lesson. But the righteous Bhim said that
this woman has come to my refuge and I won't even allow you to harm
her. Hidimb was intoxicated with his pride and so began a fierce
battle between Bhim and Hidimb. They used trees and boulders as
weapons as they grappled one another. The Pandavas were aware and
they believed that Bhim would defeat the demon and so it happened.
When Hidimb was killed, Hidimba went to Mother Kunti with bowed
head, folded hands, and humbly said, "Oh Mother, I have accepted
your son Bhim as my husband in the heart of my hearts. You are a
woman, and you know my feelings. Have pity on me and permit me to
marry your son named Bhim."
Dharamraj
Yudhishthir and mother Kunti both tried to convince her that they
were passing through bad times and were wandering from jungle to
jungle. In the circumstances, they asked her "what happiness
would you get by marrying Bhim?" But who can prevent God's
will from happening. Hidimba's repeated humble requests melted Kunti's
heart. Bhim and Hidimba got married and the Pandavas and Kunti left
Bhim there on the condition that either on the completion of one
year or when Hidimba would bear a son, then Bhim would leave Hidimba
and return to them. Time passed by quickly.
Hidimba gave birth to a son. At the time of his birth, the baby
did not have any hair on his head and so he was named Ghatotkachch.
Being the son of a demoness, he looked quite tall at time of his
birth itself. Hidimba once again reached the Pandava brothers, took
the blessings of mother Kunti, and went back taking Ghatotkachch
with her. But before leaving, Ghatotkachch bowed to his father and
uncles and they blessed him.The boy promised them that whenever
the Pandavas would require his services, he would definitely come
to them. And same things happened.
After
some time, the Pandava brothers were called back to Hastinapur By
Bhishm Pitamah and Vidhur and were handed over the kingdom of Indraprastha
to rule. Indraprastha was a lonely, rocky place, and the Pandavas
had to convert it into a beautiful town. Realising his duty as a
son, Ghatotkachch reached to his father. All the Pandava brothers
blessed him. The righteous Yudhishthir said, "Oh Vasudev, Oh
Krishna, Oh Madhava, Bhim's son has already grown up that he must
get married now. Then with his heart-winning smile, Krishna Kanhaiya
said, "yes, oh king of the righteous, the time for the marriage
of Ghatotkachch has indeed come." He then turned to Ghatotkachch
and told, "Son, there is powerful demon named Mur in Manipur.
He has a daughter named Kamkantakata, who is very wise. She subjects
anyone who comes with a marriage proposal to her to some very difficult
questions. You go there with the blessings of all your elders and
with the grace of God; you will answer all her questions, but don't
perform the wedding rituals there. You come here along with her.
Lord Krishna's words can never be false.
When
Ghatotkachch reached Manipur, he had battle of wits with
Kamkantakata and became victorious. Thereafter he reached
Indraprastha with Kamkantakata after taking due permission
from "MUR" Demon. There both of them got married
in the presence of Lord Krishna. Then after seeking his
elders' permission, Ghatotkachch proceeded towards east.
Time waits for none. It just flows uninterrupted and just
passes by and then, finally the auspicious time came when
all the planets were so powerful that Kamkantakata bore
an illustrious, strong, wise, kind hearted and religious
son named Barbareek.
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There
is a reason behind the name Barbareek. At the time of his
birth, he had hair like a lion's mane. And as you know,
a lion is very ferocious and hence the name "Barbareek"
was given to him. As has been said earlier, some of demonesses
grow up as soon as they are born. Now there arose a doubt
in Ghatotkachch's mind as to what his son would become.
But he was fortunate enough to have the proximity of Shri
Krishna. He took Barbareek to Dwarka and placed him at the
feet of lord Shri Krishna. Then Barbareek bowed his head
with folded hands, touched Shri Krishna's feet, and said,
"Oh Banke Bihari Oh my Lord! How can a creature in
this world be blessed? Some say religion brings blessings,
some advocated philanthropy, some prefer meditation, some
flavor riches, some like pleasure and enjoyment, but many
argue that only salvation brings blessing. Oh Lord, out
of all these options, please direct me along one path, grant
me one option, which may prove to be auspicious for my dynasty
and for all others. Please preach to me and advise me about
that. "Lord Shri Krishna was very happy to know his
feelings, his inner determination, and faith. Therefore,
with his sweet attractive smile, he said, "Oh son'.
All the four castes in society have their pre-destined paths
of invoking blessings according to their position in society.
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Since
you are a 'Kshatriya' or a "warrior', you should use
your strength, that is you should use your might which you
can get by seeking the blessings of 'Sureshwari Bhavani Bhagvati.'
Therefore you should first worship the goddess. Barbareek
again asked the Lord to which place he should go to meditate
upon the goddess and seek her blessings. Then the Bhaktvatsal
Lord Krishna told Barbareek to go to the meeting place of
the oceans the meditate upon the 'Durgas' brought by Narada.
Then heeding the venerable command of Shri Krishna, Barbareek
proceeded. Reaching the meeting place of the oceans, he gained
his perception and began to meditate upon the goddess. The
goddess saw his intense meditation and determination and were
so pleased that they granted him a boon that could not be
accessed by anyone else in all the three worlds. The goddess
said, "Son, we grant you unparalleled strength. Nobody
will be able to defeat you in this world. But you stay here
for a few more years because a Brahmin named Vijay will come
here and you will receive even more blessings as a result
of his company.
Barbareek
stayed there following the goddess' command. The Brahmin named
Vijay came there from Megadha and worshipping seven Shivlings,
he became immersed in the meditation of the same goddess.
The goddess came in the Brahmin's dream and blessed him and
also asked him to meditate before the Sidha Mother to practice
all his skills and learning. They told him that my devotee
Barbareek would help him. Then that Brahmin named Vijay said
to Barbareek, "Oh Brother! Please take care that my meditation
is not disturbed till I practice all my skills." Therefore,
Barbareek killed Replindu demon, and Dhruv-Dhruva demoness
etc., who were obstructing in the Brahmin's meditation. He
also killed the demons called Palasi who had been troubling
Nagas from the Patal lok. On the killing of those demons,
the king of the Nags, Vasuki came there and told Barbareek
to ask for a boon. Barbareek humbly asked for a boon that
the Brahmin Vijay's meditation may be completed uninterrupted.
At
that time many Nag maidens seeing Barbareek's looks and bravery,
were eager to marry him. But Barbareek told all of them that
he had taken the vow of bachelorhood. Those Nag maidens were
very pleased with his bahaviour and gave him the boon of being
ever victorious. Thereafter the goddess granted Brahmin Vijay
the boon of wealth and fortune and the Lord Shiva gave Barbareek
three infallible arrows and blessing him, said that by using
these arrows he would always be victorious in the three worlds.Devotees!
These are the same three arrows which we worship as Lord Shyam's
weapons. These are kept in every Shri Shyam's temple and are
worshipped with great devoutness.
In
gaining Sindh fortune and glory, that Brahmin became famous
by the name of Sindhsen. After a long time of his leaving
that area, the Pandava brothers also reached the Sindh pilgrimage
after losing everything in gambling. All the Pandavas worshipped
the goddess and then sat a little away to take some rest.
Then according to God's will, Bhim stood up and without washing
his hand and feet, entered the sacred pond and began rinsing
and gargling his mouth. Barbareek became very angry on seeing
this. He went to Bhim and asked him what kind of a pilgrim
he was. He said, "You know the water from this pond is
used for the worship of the goddess and you have entered the
pond without even washing your hands and feet and you are
also gargling and rinsing your mouth." At this, the strong
Bhim also got very angry and both started fighting. Bhim was
very proud of his might and even after applying all his strength
he couldn't defeat Barbareek. Seeing this, Bhim became very
depressed and at the same time, Lord Shiva appeared at that
place with all the goddess. Lord Shiva told Bhim not to feel
depressed as Barbareek was from his own family and was indeed
his descendent. He is Barbareek, the son of your son Ghatotkachch.
Now Barbareek was very sad at what he had done. He felt sad
at having fought with his grandfather. He felt disdain for
his life and he went ahead to end his life. Then the goddess,
who had granted Barbareek the might and Lord Bholenath, advised
Barbareek that this is not the time for him to end his life.
On everybody's advice, Barbareek calmed down and reunited
with his family. Even after meeting the Pandavas, the flame
of devoutness and meditation was there in Barbareek's mind.
The Pandavas also after completing their one-year of hidden
identity stay in the forest began demanding their kingdom
back. But then Duryodhan refused them even five villages,
what to say of their Kingdom and finally the destructive war
of Mahabharata was decided on. The battle of truth and the
falsehood was sure to take place.
Barbareek
also completed his meditation at the meeting place of the
oceans, returned to his mother, and touched her feet. When
Barbareek got the news of the battle of Mahabharata, he also
wished to see the same and told his mother about his desire.
Then his mother told him, "If you want to see the battle,
then go. But you are so brave and courageous that if you feel
the urge to participate in the war, what will you do?
Then
Barbareek said, "Mother, I will first watch the battle
and then afterwards I will join the side of the party which
is losing." Then taking his mother's permission and blessing,
the strong and mighty, courageous, friend of the loser, Barbareek
rode a blue horse at the speed of wind and proceeded towards
the battlefield of Mahabharata, Kurukshetra.
There,
the hero of the Mahabharata, the omnipresent Lord Krishna
saw through his divine foresight that a brave man astride
on a blue horse was proceeding towards the battlefield with
the speed of wind. Shri Krishna thought in his mind. "Let
me examine this brave youth." And the playful God disguising
himself as a Brahmin sat under a peepal tree, a little distance
away from the battlefield. When Barbareek reached there, he
saw the Brahmin sitting under the peepal tree and alighting
from the horse; he bowed humbly to the Brahmin and stopped
there. Then the Lord, in the guise of a Brahmin, asked him
who he was and where he was going? Barbareek replied, "Oh
Brahmin! My name is Barbareek and I am going towards the battlefield
of Mahabharata." on this, the Lord said, "brave
man, you are going towards a battlefield and that too with
only three arrows." Barbareek replied, "Oh Brahmin!
Let alone three arrows, of these only one arrow is enough
to destroy the entire armies taking part in this war in one
second and then it will return back to my quiver. If I use
all the three arrows then there will be havoc in the three
worlds. Everything will be destroyed and after completing
their task, the arrows will return to my quiver." Then
the Brahmin said, "Oh brave youth, why are you so arrogant
about your courage and your arrows?" Barbareek answered,"
Oh Brahmin! This is not arrogance; this is the strength of
my meditation, my worship. That is why I am proud of them.
The Lord in the guise of the Brahmin said, "If you are
so proud of your bravery, then tie all the leaves of the peepal
tree under which I am sitting, with one arrow."
The
brave Barbareek agreed to fulfill his wish. He removed one
arrow from his quiver and concentrating on his meditation,
he released the arrow after bringing it near him. Within moments,
the arrow tied all the leaves of the peepal tree together.
But Lord Krishna had one leaf under his foot. After tying
the leaves on the tree the arrow started revolving around
the Brahmin's foot. At this the Brahmin asked, "Oh Brave
man, why is this arrow revolving around my foot." Barbareek
told him that there must be a leaf under his foot and the
arrow was revolving to tie the leaf. Then the Brahmin said,
"If there is a leaf why is the arrow not tying it?"
Barbareek told him that the arrow had been released to tide
the leaves and not his foot. Hearing this, the Brahmin removed
his foot and the arrow tied that leaf too and then returned
to Barbareek's quiver.
Lord
Shri Krishna said, "There is no doubt that you are brave,
very brave. But tell me which side you will fight for in the
battle." Barbareek told him, "Brahmin, actually
I have come to see the battle. But then whichever side loses,
I will fight for that side." Lord Krishna knew that Kauravas
would definitely lose the battle. And if this brave man joins
the losing side, then the scene of the whole battlefield would
change. If this happened, then righteousness and religion
would be destroyed and unrighteousness would emerge victorious."
The
Lord in the guise of the Brahmin said, "you are surely
very brave. But just being brave or courageous doesn't constitute
the meaning of being of Kshatriya. A Kshatriya should be a
philanthropist, as well. At this Barbareek said, "Today,
anything you want from me. If it is under my control, I will
surely fulfill your wish." Then the playful Lord Krishna
said. "First you promise me and then I will ask for a
boon", Barbareek promised and gave him his words and
told him to ask for whatever he wants.
Then the playful Krishna said, "Oh brave man! Give me
your head in charity."
Barbareek
became speechless with astonishment. He said, "Oh Brahmin!
I have given you my words and so I will surely give you my
head. But first you tell me who you are and why do you want
my head? Please disclose me your identity?
At
this, Lord Krishna showed Barbareek his divine form and said,
"Look Barbareek, before the battle in order to worship
the battle field it is necessary to sacrifice a full, brave
Kshatriya's head that is the bravest on this earth and no
one is braver than you in this world. That's why I had asked
for you head in charity."
Barbareek
said, "Oh Lord, I have been your devotee since my childhood.
It is my good fortune that you have asked for my head. But
Oh Lord! I too have a wish. I wish to see this battle till
its end. If you fulfill this wish of mine then my life will
be a success and will have a new meaning to it." Lord
Krishna said. "So be it! Oh brave Barbareek your wish
will surely be fulfilled."
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Therefore
on the eleventh of the brighter half of the Phalgun month,
Barbareek sang devotional songs in the whole night and
on the morning of the twelfth, after bathing and doing
his morning prayers, he gave his head to the playful Lord
Krishna.
"BOLO SHISH KE DANI KE JAI"
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At
that moment, all the Pandava brothers arrived there and
began telling Lord Krishna, "Lord! Why have you asked
for this innocent brave man's head? Then "Siddha Ambika,
Tara, Kapali, Suvarna, Trikola, Chandika, Praneshwari, Bhutambika,
Kodhmatru, Harisiddha, Charcha-cheeka, Yogeshwari &
Tripura etc., goddesses appeared, and said "Oh brave
Pandavas! Hear from us the reason for taking the sacrifice
of Barbareek's head.
Once
upon a time all the Gods prayed to Shri Vishnu that Lord!
The unrighteousness on earth has increased greatly. Please
lessen this burden from the earth. Then Lord Vishnu assured
everyone and putting their minds of rest promised that he
would take an incarnation and remove the burden from the
earth. Then a Yaksha named Suryavarcha, who was present
there, said that he alone could take an incarnation and
he would remove earth's burden. As soon as he said that,
Lord Brahma became extremely furious and he cursed Suryavarcha
saying that whenever the time comes for him to remove the
world's burden, he would die by the hands of Shri Krishna.
Then Suryavarch asked what he could do to escape from Lord
Brahma's curse. Lord Vishnu said that whenever the burden
of sin and unrighteousness will descend on the earth, Shri
Krishna will release you from your curse and with his blessings
you will become famous. He is the same brave man whose head
Shri Krishna has taken as a sacrifice and behind this also
lies the good for righteousness.
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Thereafter
Shri Krishna and the goddesses secured Barbareek's head at
the top of a high hill near the battlefield with the help
of nectar vines so that he could watch the war till its end.
Then after blessing the Pandavas and the head of Barbareek,
the goddesses disappeared.The
most destructive, most desolate war of Mahabharata started.
Lakhs of soldiers were killed from both sides on the battlefield
and it was only after 18 days of fierce battle that with great
difficulty the question of victory and defeat was decided.
It was because of the artful Shri Krishna's policies that
the Pandavas could achieve victory. On achieving victory,
all the five Pandavas began describing their own individual
courage in glorious terms and began to show arrogance at their
victory. Each of them was thinking himself to be the cause
of this victory. While Arjuna was arrogant about his archery
skills, Bhim was proud of his clubbing skills. Each of them
thought himself to be the rightful recipient of victory.
Then
Shri Krishna said, "Oh brave Pandavas! Don't be so proud
of yourselves. The correct decision regarding the real winner
can only be taken by the brave Barbareek's head. You all were
fighting in the battle but that brave man's head has seen
all that happened on the battlefield from beginning to end
from the top of the hill with rapt attention. Come, let's
go, and ask the brave Barbareek's head." All the Pandava
brothers accompanied Shri Krishna to the peak of the hill
where Barbareek's head was secured with nectar vines. In front
of Barbareek's head, all the Pandavas began to say that they
were each responsible for the victory and were so happy that
they couldn't contain their happiness within themselves.
Then
Barbareek's head smiled and said, "Oh brave Pandavas!
You have achieved the victory in this war only because of
Lord Krishna's plans and policies. It was only because of
this artful God's delusions that you have emerged victorious.
The actual winner of this war is only Lord Krishna. It's only
because of his wisdom and policies that you have won the great
battle of Mahabharata.Barbareek's
head continued, "Oh brave Pandavas, I could see only
the Sudarshan Chakra revolving everywhere which was hacking
the Kaurava army to pieces and Draupadi assuming the fearful
form of Mahakali Durga, was drinking bowl after bowl of blood
and was not allowing even one drop of blood to fall on the
earth." Saying this Barbareek's head became silent and
flowers were showered from heaven on his head.
Hearing
all this, the Pandavas became ashamed of themselves and started
begging for forgiveness. Lord Krishna said, "Barbareek,
I am pleased with your great sacrifice and I grant you the
boon that you will be greatly worshipped by the name of Shyam
in my form only in the Kaliyug. Devotees will be blessed just
by remembering you and by worshipping you with a true heart
and piety, all the jobs of the devotee will be completed."
The
brave, philanthropic, generous, courageous Barbareek's head
was later buried in the land of Khatu and by Lord Krishna's
boon, and then the time came for the head to appear. A shepherd
used to graze the cows of Khatu outside Khatu. One of the
cows while returning home after grazing used to stop at a
place some distance away from the village and milk used to
start flowing from her teats into the earth. The cow's owner
was very worried and upset that his cow was not giving any
milk daily. He admonished the shepherd and asked him whether
he milked the cow every evening so that the cow was not giving
any milk to him. Even after the shepherd denied, the cow's
owner did not believe him and followed the cow the whole day
and what he saw was that at a particular distance from the
village, milk starts flowing from the teats of the cow and
enters the earth. Seeing this, he was dumbstruck with astonishment
and began wondering who was inside the earth that drank the
milk in such a fashion. He became eager to know more about
this.
He
started getting the field dug up. When the digging was completed,
a sound was heard beneath the earth. Then he gave orders for
the digging operation to proceed slowly. After passage of
some time, the brave Barbareek's head i.e. Shyamji's head
was found. The cow's owner gave away the head to a Brahmin.
That Brahmin worshipped the head continuously for many days
in his house.
According
to Bhaghavat Purana, this place was the town of Khatu Khatank.
In a dream, the king of this place saw Shyamji's head, who
told him "Oh King! You build a temple here and taking
the head from the Brahmin, install it in the temple. You will
also get a share in the fame for this." Then a temple
was built in that city and the head of Shyamji that is Barbareekji
was installed there at an auspicious time according to rites
and rituals on the 11th of the brighter half of the Kartik
month.Even today those devotees who meditate and worship the
sacrificer of the head-shyamji with a true heart, faith and
deep devoutness, Shri Shyamji riding on a blue horse comes
running to fulfill their prayers.The Shyamji of Khatu if known
by various names.
In
the midst of Khatu town, a beautiful temple of Makrana is
build of Shri Shyam-the donor of the head. There is a Shyam
pond at a little distance from the temple where the head of
Shri Shyamji had appeared. There is a special importance to
bathing in that pond. Many devotees believe that by bathing
in that pond, the afflictions of the body are cured. There
is a Shyam garden a little distance away from the temple.
The flowers for the decoration of Shri Shyam are chosen from
here.
Arati
is done five times in Shyamji's temple. All the times, devotees
immersed in devoutness and joyful prayer, dance and sing.
A big fair is held at Khatu on the twelfth of the Shukla Paksha
of the Phalgun month. Lakhs of men and women sing devotional
songs on the night of the eleventh and getting immersed in
the joy of Krishna, they dance the whole night. And at dawn
of the twelfth, people go to the temple and worship Shri Shyam.
People take their children for mundan ceremony and newly wed
couples offer prayers for their happy married life on the
12th of Shukla Paksha in the month of Phalgun.
In
the fair, lakhs of devotees walk in procession of foot from
Reengas to Khatu carrying religious symbols and offer those
colorful symbols of Shri Shyam at Khatu temple. Though devotees
throng Khatu daily, it is on Vijaydasahmi that Khatu is overcrowded
with devotees. The sight of thousands of devotees offering
unique symbols of their faith of Shri Shyam with songs and
dances is a marvelous sight. On the 11th of the brighter half
of the Kartik month also, Shri Shyam's birthday is celebrated
with gusto and fervor in Khatu.
"BOLO
SHYAM PRABHU KI JAI"
"LELE KE SAWAR KI JAI"
"SHISH KE DANI KI JAI"
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