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.
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. 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."
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.
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. 