Bahlika also called as Vahlika, was the famous king of Bahlika kingdom who lived during the previous Dwapara Yuga, that is, approximately 5,300 years back. He was the elder brother of Shantanu, who was the great king of the kingdom of Hastinapur. He was the oldest warrior who fought in the Mahabharata war. His son was Somadatta, and both of them fought together on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War. He was killed by Bhima in the Kutukshetra War. Even though, he stood at the side of the Kauravas, in general, he was a pious and a noble king, who loved both pandavas and kauravas, and was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. It is believed that he was the incarnation of Bhakt Prahalad, and due to that, he has got good qualities, and treated others in a respectable manner, and ruled his kingdom in a well-versed manner. During his reign, no one has suffered from poverty, diseases and all other sorts of problems. Due to his great spiritual power, he was highly praised by the great kings, sages and even by the demi gods in the heaven.
Since Bahlika’s elder brother Devapi has suffered from leprosy, and since bahlika doesn’t like to rule a big kingdom, and due to his generosity, he made his younger brother Shantanu as the king of Hastinapur, after the death of his father, King Pratipa. He ruled the small kingdom of Bahlika, in a proper manner, and maintained a cordial relationship between both the kauravas and the pandavas.
IMPORTANCE
According to ancient texts, it is mentioned that, in the krita yuga he was serving in the Brahma Loka to Lord Brahma Dev, as Shanku Karna, and due to a curse, he took birth as Bhakta Prahalada, and in his next birth, he took the avatar of Bahlika, the great king. He was also considered similar to Karna, in doing charitable activities. Daily he will used to provide food to thousands of poor people at his palace, and also gifted them new clothes, and constructed several annadan centres at various places of his kingdom. Being the avatar of Prahalad, he will used to chant the Narayana Mantra “OM NAMO NARAYANAYA NAMAHA” on a daily basis. Throughout his life, he never hated others, and was respected by everyone, and lived his life in a proper manner. Lord Krishna, liked him very much, and he was died in the hands of Bhima, as aspect of Lord Vayu Dev, and he wilfully accepted his defeat and died with a smiling face, and didn’t blamed anybody for the cause of his death, during the time of his death. At the time of his death, Lord Krishna blessed him to have a painless death, and due to that, without any sufferings in his body, he died in a peaceful manner. This is due to the act of his good karma, which he has done in his previous birth.
Let us worship the great king and be blessed.
“OM SRI BAHLIKA MAHARAJAVE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMO NARAYANAYA NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR
