Mantralaya-2013
(Barbarika, a mighty warrior, and Sri Krishna's grace upon him)
Date : Oct 24, 2024
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA JAYATI NA ANRUTA
Background
Barbarika, a mighty warrior, and Sri Krishna's grace upon him are described in Mantralaya (2013).
Meaning
In
this article, we delve into the legendary story of Barbarika, a mighty
warrior whose unmatched skills in archery were surpassed only by his
unwavering devotion to Lord Krishna. Known for his incredible valor and
divine boons, Barbarika's role in the Mahabharata is a testament to his
strength, humility, and deep spiritual connection with Krishna. Join us
as we explore the story of this extraordinary hero and devotee, whose
sacrifice and wisdom continue to inspire
Sri Raghavendra Swamy,
seated in Brindavana in a state of Yoga Nidra, continues to shower
blessings upon all devotees. His presence, even in this meditative
state, is deeply beloved by Lord Sri Hari. In fact, Sri Hari is
immensely pleased with Rayaru’s selfless choice to remain in
Brindavana, offering spiritual upliftment to all beings, rather than
accepting the path to Vaikunta, the eternal abode of Vishnu.
In
his works, Sri Rayaru often speaks about Lord Krishna’s infinite
compassion toward pure souls, ensuring that they are safeguarded from
the accumulation of negative karma. One such profound example from the
Mahabharata is the story of Barbarika.
Ghatotkacha, the mighty
son of the Pandava Bhima and the demoness Hidimbi, was a warrior of
immense strength and magical powers. His name, derived from his
pot-shaped, hairless head, is a reflection of his unique appearance. As
a formidable warrior, Ghatotkacha played a crucial role in the Pandava
army during the Kurukshetra War, commanding an entire akshauhini (a
large military division) and wreaking havoc upon the Kauravas.
His
power on the battlefield was unmatched, as he vanquished numerous
demons and towering Asuras, creating fear among the Kauravas. However,
his most significant contribution came when he confronted the great
warrior Karna, forcing him to use the divine Vasavi Shakti weapon—one
of Karna’s most powerful and only one-time-use weapons, reserved for
killing Arjuna. By sacrificing himself in this battle, Ghatotkacha not
only secured a strategic advantage for the Pandavas but also showcased
his immense loyalty and courage, forever etching his name in the annals
of the Mahabharata.
Barbarika, the grandson of Bhima and the son
of Ghatotkacha and Ahilavati, was destined for greatness from birth.
His unparalleled talent in archery became evident early in his life.
Guided by a deep spiritual calling, Barbarika undertook intense
penance, seeking divine power to enhance his abilities. Pleased with
his devotion, Lord Shiva bestowed upon him three mystical arrows, each
imbued with extraordinary power. These arrows, known as Teen Baan, were
so powerful that they made Barbarika virtually invincible.
When
the Kurukshetra war between the Pandavas and Kauravas was declared,
Barbarika, driven by a sense of duty and his warrior spirit, felt an
intense desire to participate. His heart surged with the excitement of
battle and the resolve to uphold his dharma. With his three divine
arrows, gifted by Lord Shiva, he made his way toward the battlefield,
ready to demonstrate his unparalleled skill and honor his role as a
warrior.However, his journey to the battleground was not just one of
physical preparation—it was a test of his character and destiny, as his
encounter with Lord Krishna would soon reveal
As Krishna, the
divine strategist, meticulously prepared both the Pandavas and Kauravas
for the great war, Barbarika arrived at the battlefield, eager to join
the fray. His powerful presence did not go unnoticed. Intrigued by
Barbarika's arrival and intentions, Krishna, ever the wise observer,
decided to engage him in conversation.
Krishna first turned to
the commanders of both armies, asking how long they believed the war
would last. The responses varied—some estimated 20 days, others 28,
while some thought it could drag on even longer. Each commander gave a
different answer, reflecting the uncertainty of the battle's outcome.
Krishna, however, was curious to hear what Barbarika, armed with his
divine arrows, had to say.
Barbarika, with a calm yet confident smile, boldly declared, “This war will not take more than a few moments.”
Krishna,
knowing Barbarika's immense power, smiled at him, but still questioned,
“A war of this magnitude? There are eighteen Akshauhini armies gathered
here, made up of the greatest warriors. How do you believe such a vast
conflict can be resolved so quickly?”
Barbarika, with humility and
respect, bowed before Krishna and explained, “By Lord Shiva’s grace, I
possess three extraordinary arrows. They are unlike any other weapons.
The first arrow marks everything I wish to destroy, the second arrow
identifies everything I wish to spare, and the third arrow, when
released, will instantly destroy all that the first has marked—while
protecting those touched by the second. Once their work is done, the
arrows return to my quiver, ready to be used again."
This
remarkable explanation of Barbarika's arrows can be fascinatingly
related to modern science and technology. The arrows, when activated
with divine energy, seemed to have the ability to tune into a certain
frequency and perceive human thoughts. In today’s terms, when we think,
electric energy is generated within our brain and body—what we now
understand as brain waves. While it's difficult to tap into these waves
in the present day, we are making progress in fields like
neurotechnology.
For instance, brain-to-brain interfaces today
can detect motor imagery in EEG signals recorded from one subject (the
“sender”) and transmit this information over the internet to another
subject (the “receiver”). This is achieved through devices that read
brain signals, but they require wearing hardware around the head.
However, what Barbarika described appears to be a much more advanced
and intuitive technology, far beyond what we have today.
If we
map this concept to modern technology, it seems like Barbarika’s first
arrow could read brain waves remotely, identify targets, and mark them
on a "deletion list" in a cloud-based system. The second arrow could do
the same, but instead, it would mark individuals to be saved, adding
them to a "save list" in a secure, private cloud. The third arrow would
then act as an AI-driven agent, reading both lists from the cloud and
executing its tasks accordingly—eliminating those marked for
destruction while protecting those marked for safety.
In a way,
Barbarika’s arrows function like highly advanced AI task agents,
capable of performing specific, complex actions based on input data.
The way he described their precision and efficiency is astonishing when
compared to modern technological advancements. It seems that the
ancient understanding of power, intelligence, and control was not only
spiritual but also akin to a form of highly sophisticated
technology—one that we are only just beginning to scratch the surface
of in our current era.
Barbarika continued with quiet confidence, “With these arrows, I can wipe out the entire opposition in an instant.”
Intrigued
by the young warrior's bold claim, Krishna decided to test him to
showcase his power to the world. “If your arrows are as powerful as you
say, demonstrate their precision. Use your first arrow to mark every
leaf on that banyan tree,” he instructed, gesturing toward a nearby
tree.
Without hesitation, Barbarika took aim and released the
first arrow. It zipped through the air, effortlessly marking every leaf
on the tree. Just as it was about to return, Krishna slyly plucked one
of the leaves and hid it beneath his foot.“Now, let your second arrow
do its work,” Krishna challenged. The second arrow marked the parts of
the tree that he wished to save.Barbarika released the third arrow,
which swirled through the air, igniting each marked leaf one by one.
However, to Krishna's astonishment, the arrow hovered over Krishna's
foot, waiting for the hidden leaf to be revealed. With a smile, Krishna
lifted his foot, allowing the arrow to burn the final leaf before
returning to Barbarika’s quiver.
Impressed by the precision and
power of Barbarika’s arrows, Krishna recognized that this young warrior
was indeed formidable. However, a question weighed heavily on his mind.
“Barbarika,” he asked, “which side will you fight for in this war?”.
Barbarika’s
eyes gleamed with resolve. “I have promised my mother and my guru that
I will always fight for the weaker side, to ensure fairness and
balance.”
This answer troubled Krishna. Although the Kauravas
had a formidable army, they were ultimately in the wrong. If Barbarika
joined them, a pure soul would be committing an act of adharma by
fighting against those on the righteous path. Krishna realized he had
to act swiftly to preserve dharma and save Barbarika from a dark fate.
“Barbarika,”
Krishna said with a warm smile, “I am deeply impressed by your courage,
your devotion to your mother, and your sense of fairness. But I must
ask for a sacrifice—one that will ensure the triumph of righteousness.”
Barbarika
looked at Krishna with unwavering faith. “Tell me what you need, O
Lord. If it ensures the victory of dharma, I will gladly offer it.”
Krishna’s voice softened. “I ask for your head.”
Without a
moment's hesitation, Barbarika smiled. “If my sacrifice ensures the
victory of righteousness, I will willingly offer my head. But I have
one request—allow me to witness the entire Kurukshetra war.”
Moved
by Barbarika’s selflessness, Krishna agreed. With his Sudarshan Chakra,
Krishna severed Barbarika’s head. He placed the head on a high hill
overlooking the battlefield, allowing Barbarika to observe the war
unfold.
For 18 days, Barbarika’s head remained a silent
observer, witnessing the epic clash between the two mighty armies. This
remarkable ability serves as a profound metaphor for the advanced
potential of human consciousness. It invites us to consider the
extraordinary capacity of the mind to transcend physical limitations
and engage with distant events.
In the realm of modern science,
we see parallels in concepts like remote viewing and cognitive
enhancement, where individuals can process and analyze information
beyond their immediate surroundings. Just as Barbarika’s head could
perceive the unfolding drama of war from afar, our minds possess the
potential to visualize, comprehend, and learn from experiences that are
not physically present.
Barbarika witnessed Bhishma’s fall,
Drona’s death, Karna’s valiant fight, and ultimately, the destruction
of Duryodhana and the Kauravas. When the dust settled and silence
returned to the battlefield, Krishna approached Barbarika’s head.
“O
noble warrior,” Krishna asked, “you have seen the entire war. Tell
me—what do you believe is the reason for the Pandavas’ victory?”
Barbarika’s
voice echoed from the hilltop. “O Lord, the victory of the Pandavas was
not due to any individual’s strength or prowess. It was your divine
grace of you that ensured their triumph. The Kauravas fell not because
they were weaker, but because they were consumed by hatred and
jealousy.”
Pleased with Barbarika’s wisdom, Krishna blessed him.
“Your sacrifice will be remembered for eternity, O noble soul. You
shall attain salvation, and people will worship you for your valor,
devotion, and fairness.”
Since that day, Barbarika has been
honored across many regions by various names. In Himachal Pradesh, he
is worshiped as Kamrunag and Ratan Yaksha. In Rajasthan, he is known as
Kathushyam Ji. In Gujarat, he is revered as Baliya Dev, and in Nepal,
he is worshiped as Raja Yalambara or Akasha Bhairava.
Like his
father Ghatotkacha, Barbarika’s legacy lives on—not only as a symbol of
unmatched archery but also as a reminder of sacrifice, fairness, and
unwavering devotion to dharma. His story continues to inspire
generations, teaching that true greatness lies not solely in strength
but in service, humility, and the pursuit of righteousness.
This
incident in the Mahabharata highlights Krishna’s grace in safeguarding
those who follow the righteous path, ensuring they do not succumb to
grave sins. It serves as a powerful reminder of the divine intervention
that can steer individuals toward virtue and away from
wrongdoing.Moreover, it draws an intriguing parallel to modern
technological advancements.
The devotion towards
Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple
and effective way to reach Sri Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE
GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be
disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||