Khatu shyam baba ji temple, constructed of the famous Makrana marble, is in the heart of the town. Khatu shyam ji is considered to be the God of the Kaliyuga. Shyam ji is synonymous with Krishna and thus, he is worshiped in the same form. He is also known as khatu naresh, sheesh ke dani, lakhdatar, teen baan dhari, haare ke sahare, leley ke aswari, baba shyam etc.
BARBAREEK KATHA
We all know about The mighty Bhima's son Ghatotkach. Heroic Ghatotkach was married to Murvi - the daughter of Datyraj Moore. Maurvi is also known by the names of Kamkantka and Ahilyawati . Heroic Ghatotkach and Queen Murvi received their gem like son . The baby was named Barbareek because of resemblence of his hairs like a Babbar Sher (A kind of Lion in India) . This heroic Barbareek is known around the world today as 'Khatu Shyam'.
In his childhood, Heroic Berbrik was educated by Lord Krishna to support the weak and do charity . With his might he killed many demons who used to prevent weak rishi - munis in performing the ritual - religious veneration etc. He bacame the Student of a Brahman named Vijay. He proetected the Yagya of this Brahmans from the demons and facilitated the Yagya to be completed. Thus Lord Shiva revealed himself to Barbareeka and gifted him three arrows, that could win all the three worlds.
When declaration of Mahabharata war was done Barbareek asked his mother to attend the war. Mother had commanded him to participate in the war with the promise that you will be performing along side the loser in the battle.
When Lord Krishna came to know about the oath of Barbareek he decided to test it. When heroic Barbareek proceeded for participation in the war Lord Krishna met him in the path asked about the features of three arrows. Veer Barbareek said the first arrow marks all enemy, second destroys all the enemies and there has not been a need for the third arrow until today . Pointing to a tree, Lord Krishna said, "Suppose this space as battlefield and the tree leaves as the enemies and use it to show your combat skills".
Meanwhile Shri Krishna, unknowingly to Barbareek plucked a leaf from the tree and put it under His foot. After seeing the warfare skills of Barbareek Shri Krishna asked if all the leaves of the tree have been peirced by the arrow? After getting an affirmative answer from Barbareek Shri Krishna lifted his foot from the leaf and got surprised to see the even that leave was peierced off.
Lord Krishna convinced that the victory of the Pandavas in the war was not possible till Barbareek is there. So he asked Barbareek to donate his head . Heroic Barbareek gladly agreed to donate his head . Barbareek expressed his wish to see the war of the Mahabharata in front of Lord Krishna . Lord Krishna gave him two boon. As per first boon his head will live apart from his body and will witness the Mahabharat war and as per the second one he will be worshipped by the name of my 'Shree Shyam' in the Kalyug time . Lord Krishna put the head of Barbareek on a high place from where one could see the whole battle field.
At the end of the Mahabharata war Yudhishtir set a victory column at Bhramasarovar. Pandavas began to argue about who made the Mahabharata war won. They went to Shri Krishna to decide this. Lord Krishna said that Barbareek can decide this as he has seen the whole war as a witness.
To decide this, as commanded by Shri Krishna, the Pandavas brought the head of Barbareek and installed it on the Victory Column (at Draupadi Koop, Bhramasarovar, Kurukshetra). Barbareek replied that I could only see the Sudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna and Khappar of Draupadi that is all got killed by the Sudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna and Draupadi ( in form of Devi Kali ) drinking the blood of the martyrs.
At the end of the Mahabharata, this head went into the earth . According to the grace of Lord Krishna, in Kaliyuga Shri Krishna Ji appeared in the dream of the king of Khatu place in Rajasthan and asked him to dig up the holy head and install it in Khatu. Today the same holy head of heroid Barbareek is worshipped as Shree Khatu Shyam.
The place where Shri Krishna tested Barbareek is located at Beed Barbaran near Talwandi Rana in Hisar . The leaves of the Tree there are still pierced. The place where Head of heroic Barbareek was placed on high by Lord Krishna, is currently at Sisla Sismur in the village of Kaithal district. Barbareek is still worshipped there in the name of Babrubhan Nagarkhedh. The location around this place is still very high.
The Victory Column which was founded by the Pandavas is located Draupadi Koop, Bhramasarovar, Kurukshetra. Barbareek of that age is Shyam in Kalyug . About them it is famous even today that according to the word given to the mother he would side with the person who lost in this world . His court is place to give support to people who've lost something in this world.
Haare Ka Sahaara, Baba Shyam Humaara
Sight Seeing:-
Shyam Kund
It is the holy pond near the temple from which the Sheesh (Head) was retrieved. It is believed that a dip in this pond cures a person from ailments and brings good health. People come at Falgun Mela from various places here and assume sacred after taking bath. People take water from here which they use to remove several diseases.
Shyam Bagichi
A blessed garden near the temple from where the flowers are picked to be offered to the deity. The great devotee Lt. Sh. Alu Singh ji Maharaj Samadhi is also in the premises.
Gouri Shankar Temple
This is a Shiva temple which is near Khatu shyam ji's temple. There is a legend that the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's soldiers wanted to destroy this temple, and attacked the Shiva Linga with a spear. Fountains of blood appeared from the Shiva Linga, and the soldiers ran away, terrified. One can still see the mark of the spear on the Linga.