Role of Barbarik Khatushyamji in Mahabharata

In the war of Mahabharata, an archer named Barbarik played a very important role. Barbarik is counted among the best archers in the world. The special thing is that by not fighting the barbaric war, he became the reason for the victory of the Pandavas. Who was Barbarik Barbarik was the son of Ghatotkacha, son of Bhima. Barbarik was interested in bow science from the very beginning. Lord Shiva had given Barbarik a boon that he could win all the three worlds with his three arrows. Lord Shiva also gave him three infallible arrows along with the boon. Lord Krishna knew this when the war of Mahabharata started. When Lord Krishna was worried about the war of Mahabharata, Lord Krishna started to fear that if Barbarika joined the war and fought on behalf of the Kauravas, then the defeat of the Pandavas was sure. Barbarik is called the support of the loser. Gods concern was the army that defeated Barbarik Will support you and the Kauravas were getting defeated in this war. Thats why Lord Shri Krishna devised a strategy to keep Barbarik away from the war. Lord Shri Krishna met Barbarik with Arjuna, in disguise, Lord Shri Krishna arrived with Arjun to meet Barbarik. Barbarik was about to leave for war. Seeing only three arrows in Barbariks quiver, Krishna, disguised as a Brahmin, mocked him and said that if he is a great archer, then he should show all the leaves of the peepal tree standing in front by falling in one arrow. Barbarik came in the words of God and shot an arrow. Due to which, after dropping all the leaves, the arrow started circling near the feet of Shri Krishna. Barbarik understood Shri Krishnas point In this whole incident, Shri Krishna had secretly pressed a leaf under one of his feet to find out the archery of Barbarik. Barbarik understood this. He smiled and requested Shri Krishna to take his foot off the leaf so that the arrow could complete its work. The promise given by the mother when Shri Krishna was convinced that from whichever side Barbarik would fight. The defeat of the other side is certain. On this he asked on whose side Barbarik would fight. So Barbarik replied that he had promised his mother that the side which loses, he will fight the war on his side. Barbarik made a gift, Shri Krishna again reached Barbarik in the guise of a Brahmin and asked for his head in donation. Apart from being a great archer, Barbareek was also rich in words and was firm in his words. Before cutting off his head, Barbarik begged God to see his real form only once. Lord Krishna accepted the request and asked to tell any other wish. Then Barbarik said that he wants to see the whole war with his severed head.Shri Krishna fulfilled his wish and the head of Barbarika was established near a hill, which was called Khatu, there. It was from here that Barbarik saw the whole war. After this, Shri Krishna gave a boon to Barbarik that in Kaliyuga people would worship him as an incarnation of Krishna. Today this place is known as Khatu Mandir. Where Barbarik is worshiped as Khatu Shyam. Bindu Rajput | Dr. Niharika Chaturvedi "Role of Barbarik (Khatushyamji) in Mahabharata" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-6 | Issue-3 , April 2022, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd49701.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/humanities-and-the-arts/history/49701/role-of-barbarik-khatushyamji-in-mahabharata/bindu-rajput