Barbarika - transmitter of epic war @ Kurukshetra

Story of Barbarika : Barbarika was son of Ghatotkacha and grand son of Bhima . He was one of the heroes of Mahabharata who never got his due in history of time. Even in his childhood, Barbarika was a very brave warrior. He learnt the art of warfare from his mother Kamkantkata Ma Morwi. God Shiva, pleased with him, gave him the three infallible arrows (Teen Baan). Hence, Barbarika came to be known by the appellation Teen Baandhaari, the "Bearer of Three Arrows". Later, Agni (the god of Fire) gave him the bow that would make him victorious in the three worlds. While seeking blessings from his mother Barbarika wowed that he will always fight from losing side. When Barbarika heard the news of beginning of the great war, he wanted to participate in it. At Kurukshetra (the battle field of Mahabharata) Krishna asked Barbarika to pierce all the leaves of a ‘Peepal’ tree to demonstrate his skill. While Barbarika was chanting the mantra just before releasing the arrow, Krishna took one leaf of the tree and hid it under his foot. Barbarika released the arrow and it did what it meant, after piercing all the leaves it started revolving around Krishna’s feet. The demonstration of this skill surprised everyone who witnessed. Barbarika claimed that he could finish the war in just few hours Krishna knew that this warrior has capacity to diminish any side, and so the other side will always be the losing one. And if Barbarika changes sides to fulfill the pledge given to his mother, he will kill every one in both sides of the war. Krishna foresaw the consequences of allowing Barbarika to participate in the war and decided that Barbarika should be avoided. He asked Barbarika, to whom he considers his guru. He replied that all the skills he earned keeping only lord Krishna in his mind, so he, lord Krishna, is the prime guru. Then Krishna asked for gurudakshina (gift asked by teachers for their teachings). He asked head of Barbarika as gurudakshina. Barbarika took no time to cut his head and gave it to Krishna on his own and in return Krishna granted him a wish to live till battle of Mahabharata ends and watch the same from a nearby mountain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nandi’s comments : Barbarika had the weapons, skill and power more than required for the epic war of Mahabharatha – only due to this Krishna decided to keep him away from the war. If he had participated in the war, the result would have been different as Krishna thought. Krishna’s favorite Arjuna wouldn’t have become a hero and all other warriors including Abhimanyu would have been eclipsed by Barbarika. Though every Indian remembers Eakalavaya for giving his right thumb as gurudakshina to Dronacharya many people do not remember Barbarika who gave his head as gurudakshina. Nandi feels that Barbarika had another important mission to fulfill and he will be remembered in the years to come – as a human transmitter in the Mahabharata era. After reading Mahabharata Nandi was fascinated by two items – Krishna’s “Sudarshana Chakra”, which can destroy enemies and return in tact to the owner and “Divyachakshus” given by Krishna to Sanjaya, the sarati (driver) of King Dritarastra. Epic war of Mahabharata was written as viewed by Sanjaya through this Divyachakshus and told to blind King Dritarastra. Nandi felt that Divyachakshus is an instrument more advanced than our 3G mobile phone. It was compact and capable of receiving signals from distant places(without towers). Then the question arises “who sent the signals ?” Barbarika is the answer to this question and that’s why Krishna selected the best one from among the warriors and placed his head atop a mountain giving blessing to witness he war.