Thread by @anbezhil12

#Barbarika was the grandson of Bhima, son of Ghatotkacha and Princess Maurvi, though other references state that he was a warrior from the south. He was from the one of major powerful warriors in Mahabharata who can change whole cenerio of battle in just few minutes. He was the

devotee of Devi Durga and lord Shiva. Barbarika was originally a yaksha, reborn as a man due to a curse from Brahma for his haughtiness when he said that he single handedly can destroy all evil forces and Maha Vishnu need not take any incarnation. He was bound by his principle of

of always fighting on the weaker side, which led him to stand witness to the Kurukshetra war without taking part in it. Even in his childhood, Barbarika was a very brave warrior. He learnt the art of warfare from his mother. The gods (ashtadeva) gave him the 3 infallible arrows.

Hence, Barbarika came to be known as "Bearer of Three Arrows". When Barbarika learnt that the battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas had become inevitable, he wanted to witness what was to be the Mahābhārata War. He promised his mother that if he were to participate in the

battle, he would join the side that would be losing. Before the Kurukshetra War began, Krishna asked all the warriors how many days it would take to finish the Mahabharata war alone. Bhishma answered that he would take 20 days to finish the war. Dronacharya replied that it would

take him 25 days. Karna said he would take 24 days. Arjuna told Krishna it would take 28 days for him to complete the battle by himself. Krishna, disguised as a Brahmin, stopped Barbarika to examine his strength. When asked how many days he would take to finish the war alone,

Barbarika answered that he could finish it in one minute. Krishna then asked Barbarika how he would finish the great battle with just three arrows. Barbarika replied that a single arrow was enough to destroy all his opponents in the war, and it would then return to his quiver.

He stated that the first arrow is used to mark all the things that he wants to destroy. If he uses the second arrow, then the second arrow will mark all the things that he wants to save. On using the third arrow, it will destroy all the things that are marked and then return to

his quiver. In other words, with one arrow he can fix all his targets and with the other, he can destroy them. Krishna then asked the boy whom he would favour in the war. He revealed that he intends to fight for the side whichever is weak. As the Pandavas had only 7 Akshauhini

armies compared to the 11 of the Kauravas, he considered that the Pandavas to be relatively the weaker side and hence wished to support them. Krishna then revealed the actual consequences of his word to his mother: Krishna says that whichever side he supports will end up making

the other side weaker due to his power. Nobody would be able to defeat him. Hence, as he will be forced to switch sides to support the other side that has become weaker (due to his word to his mother). Thus, in an actual war, he would keep oscillating between the two sides,

thereby destroying the entire army of both sides and eventually only he would remain. Subsequently, none of the sides would become victorious and he would be the lone survivor. Hence, Krishna avoids his participation in the war by seeking his head in charity. Krishna then

explained to him that before a battle, the head of the bravest Kshatriya needs to be sacrificed, in order to worship/sanctify the battlefield. Krishna said that he considered Barbarika to be the bravest among Kshatriyas, and was hence asking for his head in charity. In

fulfilment of his promise, and in compliance with Krishna's command, Barbarika gave his head to him in charity. This happened on the 12th day of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Phalgun on Tuesday. Brahma had also earlier cursed him when he was a Yaksha that whenever the time

comes to eliminate all the evil forces on Earth, then Vishnu will first kill him. Thus Yaksha takes birth as Barbarika and Krishna seeks his head in charity as a result of this curse. Since that day Human Barbarika become the divine #KhatuShyam. Before decapitating himself,

Barbarika told Krishna of his great
desire to view the forthcoming battle and requested him to facilitate the same. Krishna agreed and placed the head on top of a hill overlooking the battlefield. From the hill, the head of Barbarika watched the entire battle. At the end of the

Battle the victorious Pandava brothers argued among themselves as to who was responsible for their victory. Krishna suggested that Barbarika's head, which had watched the whole battle should be allowed to judge. Barbarika's head suggested that it was Krishna alone who was

responsible for the victory.
Barbarika replies, “All I could see was one thing, a divine chakra spinning all around the battlefield, killing all those who were not on the side of Dharma. Listening to this, Pandavas realized that it was Narayana who actually eradicated the Adharma

from the world, and the Pandavas were mere instruments. After the war, Barbarika's head was joined with his body and he left that place for narrating the whole world to maintain peace. His other name is God Kamrunaag and is venerated as the preeminent deity in District Mandi, in

Himachal Pradesh. A pond and a temple are situated in Kamru hill in Sundernagar, District Mandi. He witnessed the entire battle of Kurukshetra from the hill which is now known as Khatushyam Temple, located in Khatu village in Sikar District, Rajasthan. An impressive and

especially sacred. Temple of Baliyadev, Barbarik is situated at village Lambha in Ahmedabad District, Gujarat. He is considered as the great devotee of Krishna. And since the glories of Krishna's devotee is more than Krishna himself people worship Khatushyam also. Therefore, the

flavour of the festivities reflects the playful and vibrant nature of Krishna. The festivals of Krishna Janmaashtami, Jhool Jhulani Ekadashi, Holi and Vasant Panchami are celebrated with gusto in the temple.
Let us know our Puranic/spiritual history!
Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam 🙏🏻

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