When Krishna was called Ranchod

Jarasandha, the King of Madgadha, was furious with Krishna for having killed Kamsa, his son-in-law. He had come to know about Kamsa’s death when his daughters-Asti and Prapti- sent a message to him that they had now become widows, thanks to Krishna.

Jarasandha decided to teach Krishna and the Yadavas a lesson. Since the Yadavas were concentrated in and around Mathura, he decided to battle them and destroy the race forever.

Jarasandha then repeatedly attacked Mathura and each time, he caused massive death and destruction. The seventeen attacks that he led on Mathura had sapped the energy of the Yadavas and stunted the growth of the city.

The economy of the Yadavas was in shambles and the wars had emptied the treasury. Jarasandha was a powerful enemy with a huge army and the Yadavas barely managed to withstand his attacks with even the likes of Krishna and Balarama on their side.

One day, Krishna received disturbing news that Jarasandha had forged an alliance with several other kings to forever destroy the Yadava clan.

Jarasandha had entered into an armed alliance with Emperor Damghosha of Chedi, Dantavakra of Karusa, Rukmi of Vidarbha and  the brothers Vind and Anuvinda of Avanti. The alliance had only one aim-destroy Mathura and the Yadava clan.

There was more disturbing news for the Yadavas. The Kingdom of Hastinapur expressed helplessness in coming to the aid of the Yadavas. Meanwhile, the alliance began its march towards Mathura. Thus the Yadavas were left forlon and at the mercy of a huge force. 

The alliance decided to simultaneously attack Mathura from several fronts. Jarasandha then sent a message to the Yadavas stating that they would be spared if they handed the heads of Krishna and Balarama to him.

The Yadavas refused and readied themselves for war. Krishna was the only person who repeatedly cautioned his clansmen against the war. He then hit upon the idea of shifting the capital from Mathura to Dwaraka.

Krishna placed the suggestion before King Ugrasena his grandfather.

Ugrasena and all other courtiers and even the commanders of the Yadava army were against flight. Balarama too was against the move. He wanted to fight against Jarasandha.

Urgasena then pointed out to Krishna that if he ran away from battle field, he would forever be known as a Ranchod or one who has run away from a battle field.

Krishna retorted that he had no worry about any new name being given to him. “I already have many names and one more does not make any difference”, he said. Moreover, I am willing to sacrifice my reputation for saving my  people and their lives”, he said.

When Balarama again raised the war cry, Krishna gently reminded him that war is not the solution for solving all the problems. He said the confederacy of  kings against Mathura is so great that it would lead to the death of countless people.

“Why should people suffer because of me and Balarama”, he asked the gathering. He then suggested that the best solution would be leave the city and go to a new place where it would be difficult for Jarasandha to attack them.

He reminded the gathering that Jarasandha had already attacked Mathura seventeen times and he would not rest till he succeeded in his mission of exterminating the Yadava clan.

It was then that Ugrasena pointed out that if krishna's suggestion to flee Mathura was accepted, Krishna would forever be labeled a Ranchod-a man who had run away from the battlefield.

Krishna did not flinch and answered that he is known by several names. He again renewed his suggestion to leave Mathura.

The gathering reluctantly accepted the suggestion but Ugrasena wanted to know how a new city could be built in such a short span of time. The Magadha Army was already near Mathura and it would reach the city in a mater of days. “Then, how can a new city be built in days”, he asked.

Krishna then replied that he had already requested Vishwakarma, the architect of Gods, for help. He then prayed for Vishwakarma to appear before the Mathura court. When the architect came, Krishna asked him to show Ugrasena the plan of the new city.

Vishwakarma showed the court the plan of  Dwarka. The entire gathering was stunned at the beauty of the city.

“How much time do you need to construct it”, asked Ugrasena of Vishwakarma.

The architect replied that the city had already been built but that it was under water. Please give me your permission and I will raise Dwarka from the ocean and place it on land. It will be ready for immediate occupation.

When all the Yadavas unanimously give their consent, the capital was shifted to Dwaraka. When Jarasandha and his army reached Mathura, they were met with an empty city. An enraged Jarasandha put the city to destruction and called Krishna a coward-Ranchod-a man who had run away for battle.

Krishna, though appeared unfazed by the new name. He knew that it would be better of one sacrificed his name and fame for the good of people.

Moreover, he knew that the time had not yet come for Jarasandha to be killed. He also knew that Jarasandha could only be slain in a wrestling match and that he would meet his death at the hands of  Bheema.  

Krishna bided his time and several years later, led Bheema and Arjuna to Magadha where Jarasandha wrestled with Bheema for 27 days before being killed.

However, even today, Krishna is also known as Ranchod in Gurajat-Ran meaning war and Chod meaning run away. Having run away from battlefield, he was given the name Ranchod.                  

The Linga that Shiva himself consecrated

Lakhs and lakhs of people come to view the Taj Mahal. After the Taj, they make a hurried visit to the Red Fort before either going back to Delhi where a majority of visitors come from or to other places such as Fathepur Sikri, Mathura, Brindavan and Gokul, all places associated with Krishna.
Last year, more than three million visitors poured into Agra to see the Taj. But only a very small percentage of them, perhaps less than a few thousands, realised that Agra where the Taj is, has a  mythologically important monument that is related to both Krishna and Shiva.

Yes, this monument is in Agra and not in any of the famous places associated with Krishna. This is the famous Mankameshwar Temple, which is one of four ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in the four corners of Agra City.

The importance of the temples is derived from the fact that the Linga was consecrated by Shiva himself. What more do you want in a temple where the deity is consecrated by the God himself.

The Mankameshwar temple is situated at Rawatpara, near the Jama Masjid and it is just two and half kms away from the Taj and less than a kilometre from the Agra Fort.

The temple is easy to locate as it is surrounded by many of Agra’s old markets.

There is a beautiful story about how the temple came to be built. Krishna had decided to take birth in Dwapara Yuga in Mathura, which is near Agra. When Krishna made this decision known to Gods, Shiva wanted to see Krishna as a child.

He therefore, came down from Mount Kailash. He decided to rest at a cremation ground near Yamuna river. He rested and meditated here.

Shiva was contemplating the pleasure he would derive in seeing the young Krishna play with him and sit on his lap. He though he would install a Linga if his desire came true.

Suddenly Yashoda arrived at the place and spotted Krishna. She felt that Krishna would be scared if she saw the ash colored Shiva with a serpent around his neck and a Trishul in his hand.

Krishna heard the entire conservation. But he realised it would be difficult to get Yashoda to allow him near Shiva. So he hot upon the oldest trick that a child plays before its mother and the mother invariably falls for it.

Krishna pointed to Shiva and started crying. Meanwhile, a disappointed Shiva was sitting under a Banyan tree and meditating. Yashoda called Shiva and asked him to bless Krishna.

Shiva took Krishna in his arm, blessed him and left the place a happy God. But he did not forget his promise. He consecrated a linga at the precise spot where he had lifted the infant Krishna. This is the Mankameshwar Temple.

Shiva then said people visiting his Linga here would be blessed and all their wishes would be fulfilled.

The linga here is covered with silver.

Only people wearing traditional dress are allowed here. This is a peculiarity here as in north India, the dress code is not rigorously enforced. Therefore, no pants, leather jackets and dress, salwar Kameez here.     

You cannot miss the temple. It is surrounded by a very busy shopping hubs with grocery, cosmetic market, shoe, jewellery and Indian sweet markets. There area around the temple is known for a special pan which you get at Mankameshwar locality.

The pan  is folded in the shape of a pyramid. The pan is then coated with "chandi ki Barak" (Silver foil) and garnished with coconut powder.

Visit the temple and eat the pan. Both have their own devotees. 

The other three Shiva temples in Agar are Kailash Mandir, Balkeshwar Mandir and Prithvinath Mandir.

The Balkeshwar and Kailash temples are located besides the Yamuna. The Kailash temple is situated nearteh Sikandra side of Yamuna. The Prithvinath temple is in Shahganj, on the road to Jaipur.

The annual “parikrama” (circumnavigation) of all the four Shiva temples is a well-documented event in the history of Agra. The route totally covers 50 kms.

So the next time you visit the Taj, make sure to take time off to see the Linga and pray for your desire to come true. Of course, do not forget the pan. You will not get it anywhere else.