BARBARIKA

The Mahabharata’s battlefield had seen the greatest of the great warriors of the Dwapara Yuga. Barbarika is a lesser-known warrior amongst the ones who have sacrificed their lives for the victory of Dharma. It is believed that if this warrior had entered the battle, he would be the only one who would have survived.

Barbarika the son of Ghatotkacha and Ahilawati aka Mauravi and the grandson of  Bheema is an important character in Mahabharata. Though this character is not introduced in Vyasa's Mahabharata, it has been mentioned in other versions(Skanda Purana) and folklores.

From his childhood he was a brave warrior and learnt the art of warfare from his mother. Born in a warrior family, everyone believed he would become a great warrior.

The Bearer of Three Arrows

Throughout his childhood and teenage, Barbarika considered Lord Shiva as his ultimate guru and remained a great devotee. Pleased with his penance, Lord Shiva gave him a boon of the three great infalliable arrows. 

It is also believed that Agni, the God of Fire gave him the bow that makes him invincible in the three worlds.

Thus he gets his name Teen Baan Dhaari ,the Bearer of Three Arrows.

Barbarik and the Mahabharata war

Upon hearing about the war between Kauravas and Pandavas, Barbarika wanted to witness the war, and promised his mother that if it was necessary to fight in the war, he will fight for the losing side.

Barbarika and Krishna

Before the Kurukshetra war, Lord Krishna asked each of the warriors how many days it will take to finish the war by themself. Karna said it will take him 24 days, Arjuna 28 days and Bhima said it would take 20 days for him to finish the war.

When the same question was asked to Barbarika, he said it would only take a minute. Krishna disguised as a Brahmin wanted to examine his strength and asked how he would finish the war with three arrows.

To which he replied the ,first arrow is used to mark all the things that he wants to destroy. If he uses the second arrow, it will mark all the things that he wants to save. On using the third arrow, it will destroy all the things that are not marked.

Krishna, curious about his strength challenged him to tie all the leaves of a peepal tree with his arrows.

Barbarik accepted the challenge and took his arrow and targeted it to the peepal tree, Krishna secretly plucked one leaf from the tree and hid it under his feet.

After he released his arrow, the arrow marked all the leaves of the peepal tree and  started to hover at Krishna’s feet. Krishna asked barbarik why this is happening to which he replied that there must be a leaf beneath his feet and advised him to lift his foot otherwise the arrow will pierce his leg to reach the leaf.

 After this incident, Krishna realised that his arrows are infallible.

Further, Krishna asks which side he will be supporting to which Barbarika replied the he promised his mother that if it was necessary to fight in the war, he will fight for the losing side.

Krishna tells that whichever side he supports will only make the other side weak due to his power. If he fights on the side of Pandavas, then Kauravas will become weak and if he fights on the side of Kauravas, then Pandavas will become weak. 

Therefore he will have to constantly switch sides to support the other side that has become weaker because of the promise he made to his mother.

Subsequently, none of the side is victorious as he will be the only lone survivor. 

Donor of Head

Before the day of battle, Krishna along with Arjuna met Barbarika and said it is necessary to worship the battlefield before the battle and to win the war and to do so it is necessary to sacrifice the head of the bravest Kshatriya. 

 He asks Krishna to fulfil his desire of watching the entire battle since he is not able to participate in the battle. Krishna agreed to this and Barbarika cuts his head off and gave it to Krishna.

 Lord Krishna placed his head on top of a hill from where he could witness the entire battle.

                  

He sacrifices his head in the presence of Lord Krishna on the 12th day of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Phalguna.

 Through the charity of his head, Barbarika from then was known to be Sheesh ke daani (donor of head).

Spectator Barbarika

After the Kurukshetra war ended, the Pandavas were arguing on who had been the best warrior. To this, Krishna suggested they go and asked Barbarika since he watched the war from the hilltop.

 

On being questioned, he said "I witnessed two things, One, a chakra spinning all around the battle field, and killing all those who were not on the side of Dharma. The other was Goddess Mahakali, spread out her tongue on the battle field and consumed all the sinners as her sacrifice".

The Pandavas then realized it was Lord Narayan, and Goddess Mahamaya who cleansed the world with this war, and they had only been mere instruments of this divine cleansing.