Preface: ‘Temples and places of pilgrimage in India have a rich legacy of myriad stories and legends associated with them,’ wrote Colonel James Todd in his tome, ‘Annals and antiquities of Rajasthan’.
Since this temple is in Rajasthan’s Sikar district, the aforementioned quote assumes greater relevance. Todd wrote exclusively on and about Rajasthan, the erstwhile Rajputana.
This temple is dedicated to Barbareek- grandson of Bhim (one of the five Pandavas) and son of Ghatotkach. He was invincible (Ajey/Aparajey). He’d the blessing/boon that none on earth could defeat him.
He gifted away his head when Krishna asked for it. Then Krishna gave him the boon that he (Barbareek) would be known in Kaliyug with the prefix of His (Lord Krishna) name. Therefore, it’s Khatushyam. The cut head of Barbareek witnessed the Kurukshetra from a vantage point.
After the battle of Kurukshetra, his head was buried and later found near Sikar in Rajasthan.
It’s said that ‘SHEESH KA DAANI’ (because he gave away his head gleefully) Khatushyam grants every wish of his devotees.
People come to have his darshan from all corners of the country. Years ago, Kadambini, a HT publication, carried an article based on the importance of Khatushyam temple and how devotees return home fully satisfied after taking the darshan of this deity.
One old lady was suffering from an inoperable brain tumour. She was from Mathura. Her son and daughter-in-law came to have a darshan along with that old lady and they prayed aloud that the old woman be cured of her inoperable brain tumour. The other devotees were witness to that spectacle. She began to feel relieved from that very day and within a month her tumour disappeared. Her name was Shyamlata and she gave interviews to Dharmyug and Saptahik Hindustan (both defunct) about this miracle.
One more chamatkar took place when a poor mother prayed for her child suffering from bone TB. He too got cured within a fortnight.
Those suffering from incurable diseases, often visit this temple and the miracles happen in their lives.
But it’s said that Khatushyam grants only genuine wishes and punishes those who want harm to befall someone/others.
Since Barbareek was a great warrior and full of valour and he was grandson of Mahabali Bhim and son of Ghatotkach, the wrestlers visit this temple to seek Khatushyam’s blessings. They get more power and strength of muscles. Some even call him ‘Pahalvaanon ke isht dev.’
Khatushyam ji is also known as ‘God of Rain’. Since Rajasthan experiences relatively less and little rains esp. in that region where the temple is situated, invoking his name often brings welcome showers.
In a nutshell, Khatushyam has a great following all across the country and the temple attracts scores of devotees every day. Khatu Shyam mandir timings for devotees at Khatu Shyam Ji Temple are between 5:30 to 21:00 in winter and in summer from 4:30 to 22:00.
Sikar is not very far from Jaipur and the temple is pretty accessible to the devotees and pilgrims. Those visiting Rajasthan, should earmark it as a place to visit on their trip.
