The Tale of Barbarika- Part 2

Skanda purana- Kaumarika Khanda

Ghatotkacha and Kaamakatankataa returned to the forest of the rakshasa Hidimba, which was now ruled by Ghatotkacha. The two lived there happily and soon they had a son.

In true rakshasa fashion, the child grew into a youth as soon as he was born. He had the complexion of a blue rain cloud and a pot shaped, round face. The hair on his head and body stood up straight and this was so remniscent of the tribe called the Barbaras that Ghatotkacha named the boy Barbarika.

The two went to Dwaraka to see Krishna, who welcomed them both with joy. Barbarika had a question to ask: “O Krishna, what brings a creature born on earth welfare? I hear of so many things that are said to cause welfare but I ask you, please tell me decisively that which will be good for me and my family.”

Krishna thought for a while and then told Barbarika, “Go to the region called Guptakshetra at Mahisagarasangama, where all the goddesses of the four quarters and the Nava-Durgas reside. Worship them and gain boons.”

Barbarika, now named Suhrudaya also by Krishna, immediately went to Guptakshetra while Ghatotkacha went back to attend to his kingdom. Barbarika worshipped the goddesses with complete devotion and after three years, the goddesses appeared before him, pleased.

They told him to stay there until he met a person named Vijaya. Vijaya was a brahmana from Magadha. The goddesses told him in a dream to accept Barbarika as his assistant while he practiced Vidyaabala or the power of learning. Barbarika was tasked with remaining awake and chanting the hymn of the goddess continuously as Vijaya began his holy rituals.

Ghatotkacha’s son stayed alert and warded off different kinds of dangers and evils so that Vijaya’s work could go on undisturbed. He had many adventures and killed many demons.

Finally, Vijaya’s homa was done and he attained siddhi. He wished to reward Barbarika for his immense help and so he asked the young rakshasa to take the holy ash from the homa. The ash would heal wounds, soothe pain, and even kill enemies. Barbarika first refused, saying that he had not helped Vijaya with any expectation. However, the devas told him that the sacred ash could be dangerous if it fell into the hands of the Kauravas. Barbarika accepted their words.

Once, the Pandavas and Draupadi came to the place where Barbarika was residing. Barbarika was born in the forest so neither recognised the other. A fight broke out for some reason between Bheema and Barbarika and the latter nearly killed his grandfather. When he came to know who Bheema was, Barbarika was heartbroken about what he had almost done. He rushed to the ocean to drown himself as punishment. The Goddess Siddambika (whom Vijaya had attained with Barbarika’s help) calmed him down and told him that his death was destined at Krishna’s hands.

In time, the war at Kurukshetra became inevitable. The armies gathered there and as Yudishtira asked how long it would take to destroy the enemy, Barbarika spoke up.

“You can all stay right here and I alone will do battle and kill all the Kauravas within a muhurta,” he said calmly. “As long as I stand, no one should lift weapons.”

Krishna asked him to explain how he was so confident. Barbarika asked everyone to watch. He strung his huge bow and fitted an arrow on it. The arrow head contained the sacred ash from Vijaya’s homa that was capable of complete destruction. The ash fell upon the warriors of both sides right on the parts of their bodies that were most vulnerable. Barbarika told the onlookers that now these parts had been marked, he would use arrows gifted by the goddesses to target these very parts and kill the warriors.

Even as the startled Pandava army cried out in admiration of Barbarika, Krishna summoned the sudarshana and cut off the young rakshasa’s head. A shocked silence fell upon the entire army. Why had Krishna killed the warrior?

Right then, the goddesses appeared there with an explanation. When Bhumi devi approached the devas for help in reducing her burden of evil men, Brahmadeva asked Bhagawan Vishnu to incarnate. Even as they were speaking, Suryavarchas, a leader of 84 crore Yakshas, arrogantly stated that HE would be born on Bhumi to destroy evil and the Bhagawan need not bother to take a human birth.

Brahamdeva reprimanded him and cursed him to be born on bhumi and be killed by Krishna before the great war to eliminate adharma began. Suryavarachas was humbled and he sought a boon from Bhagawan Vishnu. He wished for great intellect that would give him success in all endeavours. The Bhagawan agreed and he symbolically granted that Barbarika’s head would be worshipped.

At Kurukshetra, the goddess Chandika brought Barbarika’s severed head back to life with nectar. The body-less Barbarika requested that he should be enabled to watch the battle. Krishna agreed and blessed him and gave him place upon a peak from where he could witness the battle.

When the battle was done, Yudishtira profusely thanked Krishna for being the reason for their victory. Bheema scoffed and said that it was HE who had killed the Kauravas and secured the victory. When Arjuna reprimanded Bheema and said that he had seen a ‘Nara’ ahead of them at all times, killing the enemy, Bheema turned to his grandson’s head an asked him to tell them truly who had killed the enemy.

Barbarika’s head spoke loud and clear. “I saw a man who fought with the enemy. He had 5 faces on the left and 1 face on the right. He had 10 hands on the left and 4 on the right and he held a trident, discus and other weapons. On the left he had matted hair and on the right, a crown. On the left he had ash smeared all over and on the right, sandal paste. On the left, I saw the moon and on his right, the Kaustubha. This was the one who killed the enemy.”

Bheema’s pride was subdued thus by his grandson. This is the story of Barbarika, who later was and still is worshipped as Khatu Shyam ji.

It is said that Barbarika continues to bless the holy land called Guptakshetra even today, with Krishna’s blessings.