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In the history of Indian Sanatan culture and religious faith, the court of Khatu Shyam Ji located in Sikar district of Rajasthan is considered to be the main center of deep reverence for crores of devotees around the world. Every year lakhs of devotees reach here with the echo of ‘Hare Ka Sahara Baba Khatu Shyam Hamara’ with their wishes. But do you know that the history of this famous incarnation of Kalyug, Khatu Shyam Baba, is linked to the most powerful and mysterious warrior of the Mahabharata period? In the war of Mahabharata, a brave warrior, who had the ability to change the outcome of victory or defeat for both the parties with the power of his immense powers, had donated his head to Lord Shri Krishna, after which, being pleased with his devotion, Shri Krishna gave him the boon of being worshiped in Kaliyuga in the form of his own name ‘Shyam’. Let us know in detail about this amazing and touching mythological story of Khatu Shyam Baba related to that great character Barbarik of Mahabharata.
According to mythology, Barbarika was the mighty son of Pandava son Bhima and Nagakanya Hidimba’s son Ghatotkacha. Since childhood, Barbarik was extremely brave, courageous and adept in the art of war. By doing hard penance of his mother and Lord Shiva, he had achieved such amazing achievements that with the help of which he could end the entire universe or any war with just three arrows.
When the great battle of Mahabharata was about to take place, Barbarik also had a strong desire to see the war. While taking orders from his mother, he had given a promise that he would always support the losing side in the war. This promise of his and his invincible powers had increased the concern of Lord Krishna and the Pandavas, because if he had joined the war on the side of the Kauravas, then the defeat of the Pandavas would have been certain.
Lord Shri Krishna knew very well that for the establishment of religion it is necessary to destroy the Kauravas and Barbarik’s promise can become the biggest thorn in the path. Lord Shri Krishna in the guise of an ordinary Brahmin entered the forest path to test Barbarika. God tested his bravery and asked, what can he do with these three arrows? Barbarika replied that with one arrow I can bind all the marks of the enemies and with the other arrow I can destroy them.
When Shri Krishna asked to pierce all the leaves of a Peepal tree with a single arrow, Barbarik pierced thousands of leaves of the tree in a moment with his divine arrow. However, Shri Krishna had hidden a leaf under his foot, but the arrow came and stopped near his foot. Then Shri Krishna understood that this child is not ordinary and he can change the entire fate of the war.
Lord Shri Krishna, while begging for alms in the form of a Brahmin, asked Barbarik to donate his head. Being a true philanthropist and a staunch warrior of his word, Barbarik, without hesitating even a moment, cheerfully donated his head chopped off with his sword to God.
However, Barbarik’s last wish was that he wanted to see the entire war of Mahabharata with his own eyes. Respecting his wish, Lord Shri Krishna adorned his severed head on a high hill, from where the entire Kurukshetra plain was clearly visible. After the war ended, when the Pandavas started taking credit for their victory, the severed head of Barbarika told that this victory was possible only because of Lord Krishna’s strategy and Chakrasudarshan.
After the end of Mahabharata war, Lord Shri Krishna was pleased with Barbarik’s sacrifice and his devotion and gave him a boon that in Kaliyuga, he would be worshiped in his own form ‘Shyam’. It is believed that after centuries, at a place called Khatu in Rajasthan, a cow used to come to a particular place every day and shed a stream of milk from her udders. When the place was excavated, the same holy sheesh was revealed, which was later handed over to a king.
After some time, as per the orders of a dream, that head was installed in Khatu and a grand temple was built. Today, the same Khatu Shyam Baba’s court remains the biggest support for orphans, poor and defeated people around the world. Any devotee who attends the court of Khatu Shyam with true heart, his every wish is fulfilled and Baba removes all the troubles of his life.