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{{Short description|Hindu deity}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2016}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| name = Khatu Shyam
| image =Khatushyamji Pad Yatra from Kota.JPG
| caption = Barbarika worshipped as Khatushyamji in Khatu near Sikar as well as other places including Kota, Rajasthan
| other_names = Barbara
, Khatu Naath
| god_of = War, Sacrifice
| abode = [[Mount Meru]]
| parents = [[Ghatotkacha]] (father), Mauravi (mother)
| consort =
| children =
| symbols = Bow, Arrow
| festivals = Khatu Shyam Jayanti
| type = Hindu
| texts =
}}

'''Barbarika''' (''Barbarīka'') in [[Hinduism]] is the son of [[Ghatotkacha]] and Princess Ahilawati or Maurvi. Ghatotkach is the son of [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi]]. Maurvi is the daughter of Daitya Moora (Army Chief of Demon King [[Narakasura]]) and Demoness Danavi.<ref name="Parmeshwaranand2001">{{cite book|last=Parmeshwaranand|first=Swami|title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6F0ZIBIL2ZAC|year=2001|publisher=Sarup & Sons|isbn=978-81-7625-226-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6F0ZIBIL2ZAC/page/n161 155]}}</ref> Babarika is a [[folk hero]] and is not directly attested in the [[Mahabharata]].

In [[Nepal]], Kirati king [[Yalambar]] is believed to be the Barbarik of Mahabharata, son of Ghatotkach and grandson of Bheem. Legend credits him with meeting Indra, the lord of heaven, who ventured into the Valley in human guise, while natives of the [[Kathmandu Valley]] portray him as [[Akash Bhairav]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/02-13/features2739.htm |title={title} |access-date=17 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225033948/http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/02-13/features2739.htm |archive-date=25 February 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In [[Rajasthan]], Barbarika is worshipped as '''Khatu Shyam''' in [[Khatu Shyam Temple]],<ref>{{cite web |title=जानिये कौन हैं ये खाटू श्याम महाराज |url=https://www.newstrend.news/175965/khatu-shyam-maharaj-ki-kahani/ |website=newstrend.news |date=14 October 2018 |publisher=Newstrend |access-date=3 May 2020 |language=hi}}</ref> and in [[Gujarat]], he is worshipped as '''Baliyadev'''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pravase |title=Baliyabapa Temple, Lambha Baliyadev Mandir, Ahmedabad{{!}}Pravase |url=https://pravase.co.in/thingstododetail/176/india/gujarat/ahmedabad/baliyabapa-temple-lambha-mandir-timings-history-rituals-facilities |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=pravase.co.in |language=en}}</ref>

== His legendary arrows ==
Barbarika/ Belarsen was a grandson of [[Bhima]] (second of the [[Pandava]] brothers), and the son of Ghatotkacha. [[Ghatotkacha]] was the son of [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi]]. He learnt the art of warfare from his mother [[Ahilawati|Ahilāvati]], who was also known as Mauravi (daughter of Mura). The gods (''ashtadeva'') gave him the three infallible arrows.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MMFdosx0PokC&pg=PA431 |title=Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics |author=Alf Hiltebeitel |author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=2009 |isbn=9780226340555 |page=431 |access-date=28 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012600/https://books.google.ca/books?id=MMFdosx0PokC&lpg=PA431 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Iravan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Regional Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Hindu folk deities]]

Barbarika - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:17, 22 March 2026