The Divya /Vishwa Roopa Darshan of Lord Krishna in Bhaagavata and Mahaabhaarata

The Divya /Vishwa Roopa Darshan  of  Lord Krishna  in Bhaagavata and Mahaabhaarata

( All the information is collected from various  sites in the internet web pages, and I have only compiled and abridged  them. There can be mistakes here and there,  putting in the proper sequence. The readers may kindly excuse me for that and if I am advsied , I  will correct the chronology.)

When you quest for finding who all had the "Divya" or  "Vishwaroopa  Darshan" of Lord Krishna, then, you find many  instances quoted by learned, blessed, famous scholars about both  the good and the bad people,  who had the Darshan, rightly mixing   Bhaagavatha and Mahabharatha   for references. 

 "Divya Darshan" may mean  the "Narayana Roopa" with four hands, holding Shankh, Sudarshan Chakra, Gadha (Mace) and the Lotus flower. Whereas, "Vishwa Roopa" darshan, is that roop wherein  his universal form with many heads devouring many worlds, spitting fire, drinking oceans, etc.,., many hands holding many arms,  etc, which is a terrible form which ordinary people cannot dare to see with their usual open eyes  and they need special spiritual  inner eye to see, appreciate and once for all lose interest in the mortal  life.

Krishna's life span  covers both these epics or puranas, whatever you call them. These  references are often quoted by all the religious scholars. Some   narrate the Darshan in the course of their Satsang Lectures and others like  Poojya  A C  Bhaktivedata  Swami Prabhu Paada ,  wrote with authority and authenticity quoting the exact reference from the sacred texts with the Chapter number and Shloka number etc.,.

Starting from Bhaagavatha  Purana, the "Divya/Vishwaroopa Darshan"  starts from Krishna's  birth istelf. Thus, the very lucky parents Vasudeva and devaki,  get   His divya  Darshan (#1) in Kamsa's jail itself.  After that, it was the turn  of his foster mother Yashoda of Gokula. She  was blessed twice, (#2) once when baby Krishna casually yawned, when by chance Yashoda could get the Darshan. When baby Krishna  was reported to have eaten mud, Yashoda asks him to open his mouth, and she had the astronomer's delight of having seen all the worlds, the milky way and the universe itself.  The next occasion was for Akroora, who had come on orders of Kamsa to take both  Balarama and Krishna to Mathura. On the way, during his morning ablutions,  he was blessed with  the Darshan  (#3), inside water. The sage Muchukunda was also granted Darshan (#4)  after  Killing Kaala Yavan.   Much later, not directly connected with the Bhaagavata,  after the death of Jarasandha, the 100 princes who were in his prison were blessed with  the Darshan (#5) (Ref: Chapter #5 Sabha Parva  of Mahabharata).   

Now, let us get to Epic of Mahabharata. It was Vidhura who got the Darshan (#6) in his house while offering hospitality to  Krishna, when he went as emissary of the Pandavas. After foiling Duryodhana's attempt to kill the emissary, Krishna gives the  Darshan (#7)  only to  Vidhura, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Sanjaya and even the blind Drutharashtra were stated  to have witnessed Viswaroopa . Then, Krishna  blesses Sanjaya to have a direct view of the war field of Kurukshetra, so that he can give running commentary to the blind  Dhritarashtra in his palace. At  the start of the great  Kurukshetra war, Arjuna drops his weapons and  refuses to fight  Bhishma Pitaamaha  and all  his Gurus and relatives who were fighting for Kauravas. Then after giving him the world-famous  discourse in Geeta  gnanopadesha and at the end  of the Geethopadesha,  the Darshan (#8) to Arjuna was given and ordered to fight, as it was his duty.  Pitamaha Bheeshma gets   the Darshan (#9) ( a second time) on his death bed of arrows. Of course, cannot forget  that  Anga Raja Karna gets His Darshan (#10)  just before he was killed by Arjuna. Lord Sri Krishna accepts all the punya accumulated by Karna.  The penultimate Darshan (#11)  during the war   was for the fighter Duryodhana  as he had   asked for ‘veer swarga’ to Lord Sri Krishna.  The last Darshan (#12)  was for the very pious, youngest  Barbareeka ( son of Ghatotkacha, the grand son of Bheema), whose severed   head  was viewing the whole war  for all its  duration, from a hill top. This episode of Barbareeka  which is not known to many, will be narrated  in the subsequent paragraphs..

Krishna continuing further, after the Kurukshetra War ends, while returning to Dwaraka, Krishna meets his old friend Sage Uttanka. The sage was told all the details of Kurukshetra etc., but, after hearing all that,  the sage said that Krishna had the capability to stop that war and he did not do it. Hence, the Sage threatens Krishna that he will give Shaap (shraap) to him. But Krishna told him that such a curse would be ineffectual, since, as God, He was the source of all mystic powers. Krishna then manifested His Viraat-Roopa (#13). Thus  sage Uttanka was particularly blessed.

Barbareeka or Khatu Shymji or  Baliyadev  or  Kamrunaag  or Aakaash Bhairav

The Raakshas  were the  group who lived  in the forests and  were supposed to be of immense strength and maayavees, capable of changing their  shapes by their will,  who even practiced eating human beings.    Bhim, the physically strongest of the five  Pandavas,  had  married  Hidimbi  the  sister of  raakshas  Hidimb  after killing him, during  their  12 year vanavaas period..  They got  a son by name  Ghatotkach. There  after, they were separated. 

But exceptions are there among the raakshas also,  and the case of one raakshasi  is worth noting. She was the princess of Pragjyotishpura being the daughter of Mur. Her name Morwi  aka Kamakantakata.  When the time came for  the marriage, as per Krishna's  directive, Ghatotkach goes to   Pragjyotishpura to meet and answer all questions in the competition for a suitor, by the virtuous, pious  and intelligent    Kamkantakata . After his win, Ghatotkach comes to Indraprastha, with the bride, and in the presence of Krishna and all the Pandavas, the marriage takes place.  Afterwards, the newly weds  go away to the forests. They get a son named Barbareeka. This son was religious, kind, intelligent , strong and wise, most of  the qualities inherited  from both his parents. Ghatotkach takes his son to Dwaraka to get the blessings from Krsihna.  Krishna listens to very interesting questions by Barbareeka  and blesses him and tells him  being a  kshatriya, he should follow his dharma, for which he must get divine blessings  from  Goddess Durga, by penance at  Mahi  saagar beach.  Barbareeka, reaches the spot and does serious meditation/tapas seeking Devi's blessings. Goddess was pleased and blesses him with unbeatable and unconquerable  strength, and advises him to stay there only  and meet Guru Vijay. Guru Vijay from Magadha, asked  Barbareeka to stay with him and  guard him so  that he completes his meditation for getting greater skills, without any disturbance. Barbareeka  stands guard and  fights  various Raakshas forces which wanted to disturb Vijay.  The same forces had troubled Naags also in Paataala, which pleases Vaasuki, and they all help Guru  Vijay in completing his tapas..  Barbareeka tells Naag maidens that he is going to be a brahmachaari and cannot marry any of them.. They wish him to be ever victorious in his life. The tapas ends and Devi grants the wishes, to Guru Vijay and gives three most powerful arrows to Barbareeka, which help him to be always victorious. Guru Vijay also blesses Barbareeka for his help, wishes him victory and advises him to fight for the weaker side.

((One popular version narrates that  the three arrows of Barabarika were to  be used as follows:  First arrow to mark all the near and dear ones, relatives, etc., Second arrow  to  mark the people who are not part of the war or who are not taking any side in the war, and the third arrow to destroy everything that is not marked by first and  second arrows.

Another philosophic version is  that the  three arrows  are signs of three 'turmoils's  that a human being experiences. These include the physical, the mental and the emotional turmoils, conflicts and  confusions that are found almost everywhere. These three  are cleared with  chanting of name of Shri Krishna. Thus, giving Barabarika the name "Shyaam", the  Lord intended to remove the three 'turmoil's of human life, symbolized by the three  arrows, without which it might not be possible to destroy or overcome the 'turmoil's.))

On an   occasion, when Bhim entered  into a  lake whose water was used for Devi Pooja, without washing his limbs. This was seen by Barbareeka and he fights Bhim and Bhim was defeated. With the intervention of Shivji, the truth is told to both of them. Barbareeka was very sad and wanted to end his life. Then Devi tells him that this is not the time. Thus Barbareeka meets his grand father and the other Pandavas during their period of  agnaatwaas.

Time goes fast. Pandavas were refused their rightful  kingdom. Finally the war  of  Kurukshetra gets  decided.  By that time Barbareeka had gone to meet his mother Morwi. Barbareeks  takes his mother's permission to go to Kurukshetra, after assuring her that he will fight for the weaker losing  side, if the need arises.  He  rides a blue horse and goes at high speed towards the war field.  Lord Krishna, thinks of testing this  brave young man. He sits below a peepal  tree in the garb of a brahmin.  Barbareeka stops on seeing this Brahmin, shows his respects, after identifying himself and his destination. Brahmin questions about the only three arrows in his quiver and how can face a great war., and the brave Barbareeka tells about his meditation and the power of the three arrows. The Brahmin after hearing all that, further tells Barbareeks to  string all the leaves of the peepal tree, with one arrow.  Afetr again meditating and invoking the powers behind the arrow and directing the arrow with the work,, Barbareeks shoots the arrow. In no time, all the leaves were stringed and comes near the foot of the Brahmin and keeps waiting, as it was given the work of stringing theleaves only..  Barbareeka tells  the Brahmin that there is a leaf below his foot for which the arrow is seeking permission. After the Brahmin lifts his foot, the last leaf is also stringed and the arrow returns to Barbareeka's quiver..

((Another version of story tells that the first arrow indeed pierces Krishna's foot and marks the leaf that was hidden under Krishna's foot. This becomes a weak spot of Krishna. Prior to this event, lord Krishna also gets a boon from sage Durvasa  that his entire body except his foot will be immune to all weapons. Hence, only his  foot will be vulnerable. In the end of the urukshetra war, when Krishna revives Abhimanyu's son Parikshit, he loses half of his strength, weakening him further. Later, in the Mausala parva, a hunter by name Jara, hits Krishna's foot with arrows, mistaking the underside of the foot for the eye/ear of a deer. This leads to the death of Krishna. In other words, this weak spot on Krishna's foot was first created by Barbarika's arrow. ))

Lord Krishna as the Brahmin,  asks Barbareeka, which side he would fight and get the reply- the "weaker losing side"   Lord Krishna knew that Kauravas would definitely  lose the battle. And if this brave man joins the losing side, then the scene of  the whole battlefield would change. If this happened, then righteousness and  religion would be destroyed and unrighteousness would emerge victorious.  The Lord in the guise of the Brahmin said, "you are surely very brave. But just being brave or courageous doesn't constitute the meaning of being a  Kshatriya. A Kshatriya should be a philanthropist, as well..  After taking Barbareeka's  consent  for getting anything asked,  as a  daan, the Brahmin asks for the head of Barbareeka. Barbareeka  gets shocked and wanted to know the real identity of  the Brahmin.  Then, Lord Krishna grants him the Viswaroopa  as referred in  reference " (12)" above. Lord also explains that before the war starts, in the worship of the battle field, a sacrifice of the head of the  bravest, has to be given and he could not find none better than Barbareeka for this. Before giving his head, he requests Lord to allow him to witness the entire war till its end,  which was acceded to by Lord Krishna. 

When Pandavas who arrived there asks the Lord, why he wanted the brave boy's head ?. The question was answered by   Goddesses Siddha Ambika, Tara, Kapali, Suvarna, Trikola, Chandika,Raneshwari, Bhutambika, Kodhmatru, Harisiddha, Charcha-cheeka, Yogeshwari , Tripura etc.,  appeared, and narrated that a Yaksha named  Suryavarcha got a shraap from Lord Brahma. Only, Lord Krishna will give mukti to  the Yaksha, when he gets birth as Barbareeka.

After Lord Krishna gets Barbareeka's head,  along with the other goddesses,  the head was secured on a high hill, so that the head can watch the proceedings of the eighteen day war.

The war was fought with Lord's help, which Pandavas never perceived as such, and they felt they have won the war on their own strength. Each one of the Pandavas, felt  without him, the war would not have been successful. The arrogance and vanity gets into their head. Then, Lord decides to take the Pandavas, to see their "garva-bhanga", to the real impartial  witness, that is Barbareeka's head on the hill. They reach the hill top and Pandavas  ask  the head  to tell how with  their   hard  efforts the war  was won and they became victorious..

Then Barbareek's head smiled and said, "Oh brave Pandavas! You have achieved the victory in this war only because of Lord Krishna's plans, policies and delusions. The actual winner of this war is only Lord Krishna. It's only because of his wisdom and policies that you have won the great battle of Mahabharata.  Barbareek's head  continued, "Oh brave Pandavas, I could see only the Sudarshan Chakra revolving everywhere which was hacking the Kaurava army to pieces and Draupadi assuming the fearful form of Mahakali Durga, was drinking bowl after bowl of blood and was not allowing even one drop of blood to fall on the earth." Saying this Barbareek's  head became silent and flowers were showered from heaven on his head.

Hearing all this, the Pandavas became ashamed of themselves and started begging  for  forgiveness. Lord Krishna said, "Barbareek, I am pleased with your great  sacrifice and I grant you the boon that you will be greatly worshipped by the name of Shyam in my form only in the Kaliyug. Devotees will be blessed just by remembering you and by worshipping you with a true heart and piety, all the jobs of the devotee will be completed."

The head was buried in the land of Khatu and after  some time it got reincarnated. A devout Brahmin worshipped the head  for a long time.  That place was called Khatu Khatank. Lateron the king of the area built a marble  temple, and the head was installed on the auspicious  11th day that is Ekaadashi  of Shukla Paksha of Karthik month.  Even now, that day is celebrated by Barbareeka's devotees. A big fair is held at Khatu on  the twelfth of the Shukla Paksha of the Phalgun month. Lakhs of men and women sing devotional songs on the night of the eleventh and getting immersed in the joy of Krishna, they dance the whole night. And at dawn of the twelfth, people go to the temple and worship Shri Shyam.

Barbareeka is called  by the name of "Khatu Shyamji" and his temples have replicas of the three arrows, which are worshipped, in many parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.  His other name is God Kamrunaag   and is venerated as the preeminent deity in the District of  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" Khatu Shyamji", located in Khatu village in  Sikar District, Rajasthan. An impressive and especially sacred Temple of "Baliyadev" ( the name of Barbareeka in Gujarat area)  Babarik is situated at village Lambha in Ahmedabad Dist.Gujarat..

In the Skanda Purana, Barbarika,(Baliyadev) was the son of Ghatotkacha and Maurvi  Ahilawati), daughter of Muru, a Yadava king. Barbarika was originally a yaksha, and was reborn as a man.   In Nepali culture Kirata King Yalamber of Nepal is portrayed  as Barbarika while Native of Kathmandu Valley portrait him as Akash Bhairav.  The very righteous, pious, intelligent Khatu Shyamji's  sacrifice before the Kurukshetra war, must be taught to all children of people who care for religious education  to their posterity.

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