| The legend of Khatu Shyam Baba
can be traced back to the medieval Mahabharata. When
the dwapar yuga was drawing to a close the Kauravas
were ruling Hastinapur. During the exile of the Pandavas,
Bhima married Hidimba.They had a son-Ghatotkach. At
the coronation of the Pandavas, Ghatotkacha was married
to Kamakatonkata and she gave birth to Barbareek. Barbareek
after great penances secured the boon of ‘Ajeya'
- ever victorious - from the goddess Bhagwatijagdanba.
Barbareek was a great devotee of
Lord Shiva, who gave him the three infallible arrows
and a bow which would make him victorious in the three
worlds.
When the Mahabharata war broke out,
Barbareek decided to help the side which was losing.
Hearing this, Lord Krishna got worried, as he knew that
the Kauravas would ultimately lose. But if Barbareek
joined them, they would certainly win.
Disguised as a brahmin, Lord Krishna
intercepted him in the way and asked for his head. Barbareek
obliged. So relieved was Lord Krishna that before burying
his head in the town of Khatu, he blessed Barbareek,
saying that during kalayug he would be worshipped by
the name of Shyamji. His devotees would be blessed just
by pronouncing his name from the bottom of their hearts.
His head was then buried in Khatu.
Milk started to flow out of a cow's udder when she reached
the spot. Later, the place was dug up, and the head
appeared. The head was handed over to a Brahmin who
worshipped the head for many days. The King of Khatu
had a dream where he was inspired to build a temple
and install the head. Subsequently, a temple was built
and the head "SHISH" was installed on the
11th day of Shukta Paksha of Kartick month. |
