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{{short description|Regional Hindu God}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
'''Bir Kuar''' or '''Birkuar''' ([[IAST]]: Bir-kuār), also known as '''Birnath''', is a [[Hindu]] god worshipped by [[Yadav|Yadavs]] of western [[Bihar]] in India.<ref name = "Tagare">{{cite book|last=Tagare|first=Dr. G. V.|title=Stories of Indian saints|editor=Justin E. Abbott, Narhar R. Godbole|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|page=xxxiv|chapter=Mahipati - A General Survey|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQDyZA1y2nMC&dq=Vitthala&pg=PP42 | isbn=978-81-208-0469-2|year=1988}}</ref> He is considered to be a form of god [[Krishna]] and was born in [[Krishnaut]] clan of Ahir.<ref name = "Tagare"/> He is worshipped in form of wooden posts that depict him standing arms-akimbo. Bir Kuar is honoured as the protector of cattle.

==Legend==
Bir Kuar's legend deals with the opposition between the cattle and the tiger and also [[impalement]] themes. Bir Kuar is also called to as "Lord of the Forest".<ref>Starza p. 108</ref>

The legend of Bir Kuar says that he was an Ahir youth, who used to go deep in the forest to graze his cattle, even at night. He killed a tiger and hence became known as Baghaut baba. As a tiger-ghost or tiger-god, Bir Kuar protects the cattle, grazing in the forests.

Ballads narrate the story of Bir Kuar or Birnath, who rescued the princess Madhumati from [[Mughal Empire]] soldiers. Madhumati was on her way to a pilgrimage to the Hindu holy city of [[Benaras]], when she saw Mughal soldiers and cried. She requested a female-kite to inform her father that she was in danger, through a letter she wrote. When kite delivered the letter to the king - father of Madhumati, the king sent Madhumati's husband Birnath with his soldiers. Birnath rode a tiger and saved the princess.<ref>Karan pp. 62-64</ref> Ballads also narrate that Bir Kuar was born in the Hindu holy city of [[Ayodhya]] and reared in [[Palamau]].<ref>Karan p. 65</ref>

==Worship==
Bir Kuar is often worshipped in form of wooden posts, made by carpenters from the mixed Ahir-[[Brahmin]] class. This wooden post is erected in open field to "fertilize she-buffaloes".<ref name="H126">{{cite book|last=Hiltebeitel|first=Alf|authorlink=Alf Hiltebeitel|title=The Cult of Draupadī: On Hindu ritual and the goddess |publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=1991|series=The Cult of Draupadī|volume=2|pages=126|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmWLsI7gbI0C&dq=Bir+Kuar&pg=PA126 | isbn=978-0-226-34048-7}}</ref><ref>Starza p. 107, for images of wooden post of Bir Kuar.</ref> In these posts, he is depicted in standing arms-akimbo.<ref name = "Tagare"/> Bir Kuar is offered goat sacrifices. He is also offered clay horses, on the fulfilment of a vow.<ref name="H126"/> Bir Kuar is also worshipped in times of distress.<ref name = "K67">Karan p. 67</ref>

He is worshipped in 16-day festival called ''Sohorai'' (in October), which corresponds to festival of [[Diwali]], celebrated in honour of the Hindu goddess of prosperity - [[Lakshmi]]. Ballads describing his exploits are sung during the festival. Bir Kuar is worshipped by offering of milk and erecting his icons in open fields.<ref name = "K62ff">Karan pp. 62, 65</ref> On the new moon day in the festival, first goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Following worship of Lakshmi, Bir Kuar is worshipped in a nearby field. The cows are milked by the Ahirs and a sweet called Kshir is prepared and offered to the deity.

==Associations==
Bir Kuar is often associated with Krishna. Bir Kuar is depicted as flute-playing cowherd like Krishna. He acts like a ferryman like Krishna, helping milkmaids cross the river and having dalliance with them.<ref>Karan pp. 64-65</ref>

Bir Kuar is sometimes associated with the god [[Vithoba]] of Maharashtra - who is believed to be a form of Krishna too and depicted in an arms-akimbo posture like Bir Kuar.<ref name = "Tagare"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DNNgdBWoYKoC&dq=God+Pandurang+Vithoba&pg=PA139|title=A Social History of the Deccan, 1300–1761: Eight Indian Lives|author=Eaton, Richard Maxwell|page=139|year = 2005|isbn = 0-521-25484-1|publisher = Cambridge University Press|accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OkKhOivXrhgC&dq=Vitthala&pg=PA223|author = Vaudeville, Charlotte|title = The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India|editor1=Schomer, Karine |editor2=McLeod, W. H. |pages= 223–24|year= 1987|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publ|isbn = 81-208-0277-2|accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref> Images similar to Bir Kuar are found in states of Maharashtra.<ref name="MahīpatiAbbott1988">{{cite book|author1=Mahīpati|author2=Justin Edwards Abbott|author3=Narhar R. Godbole|title=Stories of Indian Saints: Translation of Mahipati's Marathi Bhaktavijaya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQDyZA1y2nMC&pg=PR34|accessdate=30 March 2018|date=November 1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0469-2|pages=34–}}</ref><ref name = "Tagare"/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Karan|first= Sudhir Kumar|title=Thus Flows The Ganges|publisher=Mittal Publications|date=132|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=1-i-MDQGopYC&dq=Bir+Kuar&pg=PA62 | isbn=978-81-7099-923-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Starza|first=O. M.|title=The Jagannatha Temple at Puri|publisher=[[Brill Publishers]]|year=1993|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=v4bV3beb0n8C&dq=Bir+Kuar&pg=RA2-PA108 | isbn=978-90-04-09673-8}}
* {{cite book|author1=Mahīpati|author2=Justin Edwards Abbott|author3=Narhar R. Godbole|title=Stories of Indian Saints: Translation of Mahipati's Marathi Bhaktavijaya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQDyZA1y2nMC&pg=PR34|date=November 1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0469-2|pages=34–}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Archer|first=William George |title=The vertical man: a study in primitive Indian sculpture|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.281129|year=1947}}

{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Regional Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Religion in Bihar]]
[[Category:Culture of Bihar]]
[[Category:Forms of Krishna]]
[[Category:Animal gods]]
[[Category:Ahir]]

Bir Kuar - Revision history

ImportMaster at 10:07, 19 November 2022