The Katha of Shyam Baba can be traced back to the medieval Mahabharata. Barbareek was the son of the great Pandava brother - Bhim and Nag Kanya - Ahilawati. Barbareek, from his childhood was very brave and a great warrior. He learnt the art of fighting from his mother. With the inspiration of Lord Krishna, Barbareek worshipped 'Sureshwari Bhavani Bhagvati' for seeking the blessings at the meeting place of the oceans called ‘Mahi Sagar Sangam Tirth’, where the 'Durgas' were brought by Narada. Then Barbareek gained his perception and began to meditate upon the goddess. The goddesses saw his intense meditation and determination and were so pleased that they granted him a boon that he could not be accessed by anyone else in all the three worlds. The goddess said, "Son, we grant you unparalleled strength. Nobody will be able to defeat you in this world. But you stay here for a few more years because a Brahmin named Vijay will come here and you will receive even more blessings as a result of his company.
Barbareek stayed there following the goddess' command. The Brahmin named Vijay came there from Megadha and worshipping seven Shivlings, he became immersed in the meditation of the same goddess. The goddess came in the Brahmin's dream and blessed him and also asked him to meditate before the Sidha Mother to practice all his skills and learning. They told him that my devotee Barbareek would help him. Then that Brahmin named Vijay requested Barbareek to take care that his meditation is not disturbed till he practice all his skills. Therefore, Barbareek killed Replindu demon, and Dhruv-Dhruva demoness etc., who were obstructing in the Brahmin's meditation. He also killed the demon called Palasi who had been troubling Nagas from the Patal lok. On the killing of those demons, the king of the Nags, Vasuki came there and told Barbareek to ask for a boon. Barbareek humbly asked for a boon that the Brahmin Vijay's meditation may be completed uninterrupted.
Thereafter the goddess granted Brahmin Vijay the boon of wealth and fortune and the Lord Shiva gave Barbareek three infallible arrows and blessing him, said that by using these arrows he would always be victorious in the three worlds (Trilok). Agni Dev (Fire God) gave him the Bow.
In gaining Siddhi, fortune and glory, that Brahmin became famous by the name of Sidhsen. After a long time of his leaving that area, the Pandava brothers also reached the Siddh pilgrimage after losing everything in gambling. All the Pandavas worshipped the goddess and then sat a little away to take some rest. Then according to God's will, Bhim stood up and without washing his hand and feet, entered the sacred pond and began rinsing and gargling his mouth. Barbareek became very angry on seeing this. He went to Bhim and asked him what kind of a pilgrim he was. He told Bhim that the water from this pond is used for the worship of the goddess and he has entered the pond without even washing his hands and feet and is also gargling and rinsing his month.
At this, the strong Bhim also got very angry and both started fighting. Bhim was very proud of his might and even after applying all his strength he couldn't defeat Barbareek. Seeing this, Bhim became very depressed and weak and was over powerd by Barbreek, who tried to throw Bhim in the Pond, from which no one could ever come out. At the same time, Lord Shiva appeared at that place with all the goddess. Lord Shiva told Bhim not to feel depressed as Barbareek was from his own family and was indeed his descendent. He is Barbareek, the son of your and Ahilawati. Now Barbareek was very sad at what he had done. He felt sad at having fought with his father. He felt disdain for his life and he went ahead to end his life. Then the goddess, who had granted Barbareek the mighty and Lord Bholenath, advised Barbareek that this is not the time for him to end his life. On everybody's advice, Barbareek calmed down and reunited with his family. Even after meeting the Pandavas, the flame of devoutness and meditation was there in Barbareek's mind. The Pandavas also after completing their one-year of hidden identity stay in the forest began demanding their kingdom back. But then Duryodhan refused them even five villages, what to say of their Kingdom and finally the destructive war of Mahabharata was decided on.
The battle of Mahabharata was inevitable between the Pandavas and Kauravas, and having got the news, Barbareek wanted to witness the Great War. He promised to his mother, that if he felt the urge, to participate in the battle, he would join the side which would be losing. He rode on the Blue Horse (Leela Ghora) equipped with three arrows and the bow.
The omnipresent Lord Krishna, disguising himself as a Brahmin, stopped Barbareek to test his strength. He even tried to mock Barbareek saying that he was going to the great battle with only three arrows.
On this, Barbareek replied that only one arrow was enough to destroy all the enemies in the war, and it would then return to his quiver. If all the three were used, it would create havoc in Trilok. Lord Krishna challenged him to tie all the leaves of the peepal tree under which he was standing, with one arrow. Barbareek accepted the challenge, removed one arrow from his quiver and released it from his bow.
The arrow tied all the leaves together within moments. But Lord Krishna had one leaf hidden under his foot. The arrow then started revolving around his foot. At this Lord Krishna asked why this arrow is revolving around my foot.
Barbareek told him that there must be a leaf under his foot and the arrow was revolving to tie the leaf. Then Lord Krishna said, "If there is a leaf why is the arrow not tying it?" Barbareek told him that the arrow had been released to tie the leaves and not his foot. Hearing this, the Lord Krishna removed his foot and the arrow tied that leaf too and then returned to Barbareek's quiver.
Then Lord Krishna asked the boy, whom he would favour in the war. Barbareek reiterated that he would fight for the side which loses.
Lord Krishna knew that defeat of Kauravas was inevitable, and if this brave boy joins them, the result would be in their favour. The Brahmin (Lord Krishna) then wanted charity from the boy. Barbareek promised him anything he wished. Lord Krishna asked him to give his head in charity. The boy was shocked, but he maintained his promise. He requested the Brahmin to disclose his identity. Lord Krishna showed him his divine form.
He explained to Barbareek that before the battle, in order to worship the battlefield, head of the bravest Kshatriya needs to be sacrificed. And he considered Barbareek to be the bravest, and hence asked for his head in charity. Barbareek requested that he wanted to see the battle till its end, and his wish was granted. Thus on the 12th day of Shukla Paksha of Falgun month, he gave his head to Lord Krishna.
The head was placed atop a hill near the battlefield from where Barbareek could watch the whole battle. When the battle was over and Pandavas having won, they argued amongst themselves as who was responsible for victory. At this, Lord Krishna suggested that Barbareek's head had watched the whole battle, and who else would be a better judge. Barbareek's head suggested that it was Lord Krishna who was responsible for the victory, his advice, his presence, his game plan had been crucial. He could see only the Sudarshan Chakra revolving around the battlefield 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.
Lord Krishna, pleased with Barbareek's great sacrifice, granted him the boon that when Kaliyug descends, he would be worshipped by the name of Shyam in his form. His devotees would be blessed just by pronouncing his name from the core of their hearts.
The brave, philanthropic, generous, courageous Barbareek's head was later buried in the land of Khatu and by Lord Krishna's boon the time came for the head to appear. A shepherd used to graze the cows of Khatu outside Khatu. One of the cows while returning home after grazing used to stop at a place some distance away from the village and milk used to start flowing from her teats into the earth. The cow's owner was very worried and upset that his cow was not giving any milk daily. He admonished the shepherd and asked him whether he milked the cow every evening so that the cow was not giving any milk to him. Even after the shepherd denied, the cow's owner did not believe him and followed the cow the whole day and what he saw was that at a particular distance from the village, milk starts flowing from the teats of the cow and enters the earth. Seeing this, he was dumbstruck with astonishment and began wondering who was inside the earth that drank the milk in such a fashion. He became eager to know more about this.
The omnipresent Lord Krishna, disguising himself as a Brahmin, stopped Barbareek to test his strength. He even tried to mock Barbareek saying that he was going to the great battle with only three arrows.
On this, Barbareek replied that only one arrow was enough to destroy all the enemies in the war, and it would then return to his quiver. If all the three were used, it would create havoc in Trilok. Lord Krishna challenged him to tie all the leaves of the peepal tree under which he was standing, with one arrow. Barbareek accepted the challenge, removed one arrow from his quiver and released it from his bow.
The arrow tied all the leaves together within moments. But Lord Krishna had one leaf hidden under his foot. The arrow then started revolving around his foot. At this Lord Krishna asked why this arrow is revolving around my foot.
Barbareek told him that there must be a leaf under his foot and the arrow was revolving to tie the leaf. Then Lord Krishna said, "If there is a leaf why is the arrow not tying it?" Barbareek told him that the arrow had been released to tie the leaves and not his foot. Hearing this, the Lord Krishna removed his foot and the arrow tied that leaf too and then returned to Barbareek's quiver.
Then Lord Krishna asked the boy, whom he would favour in the war. Barbareek reiterated that he would fight for the side which loses.
Lord Krishna knew that defeat of Kauravas was inevitable, and if this brave boy joins them, the result would be in their favour. The Brahmin (Lord Krishna) then wanted charity from the boy. Barbareek promised him anything he wished. Lord Krishna asked him to give his head in charity. The boy was shocked, but he maintained his promise. He requested the Brahmin to disclose his identity. Lord Krishna showed him his divine form.
He explained to Barbareek that before the battle, in order to worship the battlefield, head of the bravest Kshatriya needs to be sacrificed. And he considered Barbareek to be the bravest, and hence asked for his head in charity. Barbareek requested that he wanted to see the battle till its end, and his wish was granted. Thus on the 12th day of Shukla Paksha of Falgun month, he gave his head to Lord Krishna.
