जय श्री श्याम ..... जय श्री श्याम ..... जय श्री श्याम ..... जय श्री श्याम ..... जय श्री श्याम .....
Khatushyamji's temple, constructed of the famous मकराना marble, is in the heart of the town. Khatushyamji is considered as God of the Kaliyuga. Shyamji is synonymous with Krishna and thus, he is worshiped in the same form.
Originally the temple was built 975 years ago by Smt. Narmada Kanwar and her husband Shri Roop Singh Chauhan. In Samvat 1777 (1720 A.D.), Diwan Abhaisingh at the behest of the then king of Jodhpur, renovated the old temple. The temple took its present shape at this time and the idol was enshrined in the Sanctum Sanctorum. There is an open chowk before the entrance gate of the temple. A big hall for prayers of the size 40’6″x15’4″ is also there.
श्याम कहानी
In the Mahābhārata, Barbarika was the son of Ghatotkacha and Maurvi (Ahilawati / Kamkantkata), daughter of Muru, a Yadava king. And Bhima was the Grand father for the Barbarika. The name Barbarika given because of curly hairs of him. Even in his childhood, Barbarika was a very brave warrior. He learnt the art of warfare from his mother. 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.
When Barbarika learnt that battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas had become inevitable, he wanted to witness what was to be the Mahābhārata War. He promised his mother that if he felt the urge to participate in the battle, he would join the side which would be losing. He rode to the field on his Blue Horse equipped with his three arrows and bow.
क्रिशन परीक्षा
Krishna disguised as a Brahmin and stopped Barbarika to examine his strength. He baited Barbarika by mocking him for going to the great battle with only three arrows. On this, Barbarika replied that a single arrow was enough to destroy all his opponents in the war, and it would then return to his quiver. He stated that, the first arrow is used to mark all the things that he wants to destroy. On releasing the third arrow, it would destroy all the things that are marked and will then return to his quiver. If he uses the second arrow, then the second arrow will mark all the things that he wants to save. On using the third arrow, it will destroy all the things that are not marked. In other words, with one arrow he can fix all his targets and with the other he can destroy them.
Krishna then challenges him to tie all the leaves of the peepal tree under which he was standing with these arrows. Barbarika accepts the challenge and starts meditating to release his arrow by closing his eyes. Then, Krishna without the knowledge of Barbarika, plucks one of the leaf of the tree and puts it under his foot. When Barbarik releases his first arrow, it marks all the leaves of the tree and finally starts revolving around the leg of Krishna. For this Krishna asks Barbarika, as why was the arrow revolving around his foot? For this, Barbareek replies that there must be a leaf under his foot and the arrow was targeting his foot to mark the leaf that is hidden under him. Barbarika advises Krishna to lift his leg, since, otherwise the arrow will mark the leaf by pricking Krishna's leg. Thus, Krishna lifts his foot and to his surprise, finds that the first arrow also marks the leaf that was hidden under his foot. Of course, the third arrow does collect all the leaves (including the one under Krishna's foot) and ties them together.By this Krishna concludes that nobody will be able to escape from these arrows. Thus Krishna gets a deeper insight about Barbarika's phenomenal power.
Krishna then asks the boy whom he would favour in the war. Barbarika reveals that he intends to fight for the side whichever is weak.Krishna tells that whichever side he supports will only make the other side weak due to his power. Nobody will be able to defeat him. Hence, he is forced to support the other side that has become weaker due to his word to his mother. Thus, in an actual war, he will keep oscillating between the two sides, thereby destroying the entire army of both sides and eventually only he remains. Subsequently, none of the side is victorious as he will be the only lone survivor. Hence, Krishna avoids his participation from the war by seeking his head in Charity.
आरती
An elaborate aarti is performed at the temple five times a day. These are:
- मंगला आरती : performed in the early morning, when temple is open.
- श्रृंगार आरती : performed at the time of make-up of Baba Shyam. The idol is grandly ornamented for this aarti.
- भोग आरती : performed at noon when bhog (Prasadam) is served to the Lord.
- संध्या आरती : performed in the evening, at sunset.
- सयाना आरती : performed in the night, when temple is closed.
ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे , बाबा जय श्री श्याम हरे
खाटू धाम विराजत , अनुपम रूप धरे , ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे ...
रतन जडित सिंहासन , सर पैर चंवर धुरे
तन केशरिया बागो , कुंडल श्रवण पड़े , ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे .. .
गल पुष्पों की माला , सर पे मुकुट धरे
खेवट धुप अग्नि पर , दीपक ज्योति जले , ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे ...
मोदक खीर चूरमा , सुवरण थाल भरे ,
सेवक भोग लगावत , सेवा नित्य करे , ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे ...
झांज कटोरा और घडियावल , शंख मृदंग धुरे ,
भक्त आरती गावे , जय जय कार करे , ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे ...
जो ध्यावे फल पावे , सब दुःख से उबरे ,
सेवक जन निज मुख से , श्री श्याम श्याम उचारे , ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे ...
श्री श्याम बिहारीजी की आरती , जो कोई नर गावे
कहत अलुसिंह स्वामी , मंवांचित फल पावे , ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे ...
ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे , बाबा जय श्री श्याम हरे ,
निज भक्तों के तुमने , पूरण काज करे , ॐ जय श्री श्याम हरे ...
Other particular observances include:
शुक्ल एकादशी और द्वादशी : The 11th and 12th days of the bright half of every month in the Hindu calendar is of special significance to the temple. This is because Barbarika was born on the 11th day of the bright half of the month of Kartika, and he donated his head (Sheesh) to Krishna on the 12th day of the bright half of the month of phaagun on Tuesday.Darshan on these two days is therefore considered auspicious and devotees come in their thousands every month. The temple remains open throughout the night that falls between these days. Night-long Bhajan sessions are organised since devotees traditionally pass the night in singing the praises of the Lord. Devotees organise Bhajan programmes and invite Bhajan singers to sing devotional songs.
श्याम कुंड स्नान : This is the holy pond near the temple from which the idol was retrieved. It is believed that a dip in this pond cures a person from ailments and brings good health. Filled with devotional fervor, people take ritual dips in the Shyam Kund. They believe that this will relieve them of diseases and contagion. Bathing during the annual Phalguna Melafestival is deemed specially salutary.
निशान यात्रा : It is believed that your wishes are granted if you offer a Nishan at the temple. A Nishan is a triangular flag of a particular size, made of cloth, which is hoisted on a bamboo stick. It is carried in one's hands while covering the route from the town of Ringas to Khatu (17 km) on (bare) foot. Nishans are offered in millions during the Phalguna Mela.
फाल्गुन मेला : The most important festival associated with the temple is the Phalguna Mela which occurs just 3–4 days before from the festival of Holi. Barbarika's head appeared onPhalguna Shuddha Ekadashi, the 11th day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Phalguna. Therefore, the fair is held from the 9th to the 12th of that month.
An estimated one million devotees visit the temple during these four days from all corners of the country. There is virtually no vacant space in the town during this period. There is celebration and festivity in the moods of the devotees who wait for hours in long serpentine queues for a moment's glance of the deity. The whole town, along with the temple, is illuminated. Singers from all over the country come here to perform Bhajans on this holy occasion. Special arrangements are made for feeding the devotees in almost all theDharamshalas and rest-houses. Special trains and buses operate during the mela. The government of Rajasthan takes care of the law and order during the fair.
