Why These Demons Are Worshipped in Hinduism?
Do you think that demons are any different from gods? Or are both of them from humans? I would rather say that there are things which make us apart from each other (deities, demons, and humans). And yet we are all alike in a way that three of us have pride, jealousy, arrogance, and are self-centred.
Well, let’s just leave humans out of this discussion and continue with the gods, making demons the centre of this piece today.
Even though demons are alike deities in many attributes, there are reasons that they are not worshipped as much as gods. However, some of the demons (asuras) have gained similar or more devotees compared to deities. For example, Ravana is worshipped more than gods in Sri Lanka. Barbarika, who has been an unsung hero of Mahabharata is also one such demon who has earned devotees.
Why Ravana is worshipped?
Although the larger part of India celebrates Dusshera as the symbol of victory of good over evil, it is different in some parts of the country. Good represents Lord Ram and evil represents Ravana. However, Ravana is taken as a highly intelligent and spiritual being in the areas where he is worshipped. His unparalleled knowledge and devotion to Lord Shiva make him worthy of respect and worship.
The mythology which we have all been hearing depicts that Ravana abducted Sita and the rest of what happened happened. However, there are some tribes where the story of Ramayana is different. In other words, where the majority believes that the start of the war between Lord Ram and Ravana happened because of the abduction of Sita, Sri Lankans have a different story.
The story that they hold is that the abduction took place to avenge Ravana’s sister Surpanakha. Lakshman’s cutting off her nose when upon her proposing to Lord Rama started the whole series of events. Moreover, there are some theories which suggest that Ravana already knew what was coming. He knew his end was destined by Lord Rama, so to succumb to his fate, he deliberately abducted Sita so to be killed by Lord Rama.
What are the story of Barbarika and the reason for his being worshipped?
Barbarika was a warrior in Mahabharata who is not known much by many. We know that Lord Krishna could end the war with his Sudarshan Chakra within a fraction of a second. However, did you know that Barbarika was also capable of doing it within minutes? He though didn’t get the chance to be a part of this war.
There’s a reason that did not let him fight in the war though he was a warrior and was ready to fight. Barbarika was a descendant of Mauravi and Ghatodkach. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Because of his devotion, he received a boon of three arrows ‘Teen Baan’ from eight gods.
The first arrow had the capability to hit all the targets at once. The second arrow could save whoever Barbarika wished for. The third one could kill all his enemies. So basically he was capable of ending the war within minutes. Lord Krishna thus played a trick on him when he was out on his way to join the war.
Krishna disguised himself as a sage to stop him from going to the war. And he asked Barbarika to hit all the leaves on the tree to show his capabilities. Krishna hid one of the leaves under his foot. Barbarika’s arrow hit all the leaves and one of the arrows started lingering around Krishna’s foot.
Krishna asked him the reason upon which he said that one of the leaves must be under his foot. This made Krishna realise that he really could end the war in minutes. He then asked him which side he would fight for in the war. Barbarika had promised his mother to fight along with the weaker side so he told Krishna that he would side with Pandavas.
Krishna had no option but to stop him from going into the war. Any guesses what could be the reason? Well, if he fought with Pandavas they would regain strength and Kauravas would be then on the weaker side. So ultimately he would have to then be on their side which would result in everybody’s death except Barbarika himself.
Hence to stop this catastrophe Krishna asked him for his head and showed him his true form. Barbarika, seeing his divine form became ready to serve his head but lay a request to Krishna that he wanted to witness the war before dying. Krishna hence placed his head on a mountain from where he saw the whole war of Kurukshetra. After the battle ended, his head was drowned in the Rupwati river with Krishna’s blessings. Barbarika is today worshipped by many people in Rajasthan and is known as Khatu Shyam.
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Author: Simran K Parmar
A post graduate in English Literature, secular humanist, critical thinker, an outspoken atheist, follower of equality and a lover of philosophy. craftedfashion94@gmail.com
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