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Bir Kuar

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Bir Kuar or Birkuar (IAST: Bir-kuār), also known as Birnath, is a Hindu god worshipped by Yadavs of western Bihar in India.[1] He is considered to be a form of god Krishna and was born in Krishnaut clan of Ahir.[1] He is worshipped in form of wooden posts that depict him standing arms-akimbo. Bir Kuar is honoured as the protector of cattle.

Legend

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Bir Kuar's legend deals with the opposition between the cattle and the tiger and also impalement themes. Bir Kuar is also called to as "Lord of the Forest".[2]

Ballads narrate the story of Bir Kuar or Birnath, who rescued the princess Madhumati from Mughal Empire soldiers. Madhumati was on her way to a pilgrimage to the Hindu holy city of Benaras, when she saw Mughal soldiers and cried. She requested a female-kite to inform her father that she was in danger, through a letter she wrote. When kite delivered the letter to the king - father of Madhumati, the king sent Madhumati's husband Birnath with his soldiers. Birnath rode a tiger and saved the princess.[3] Ballads also narrate that Bir Kuar was born in the Hindu holy city of Ayodhya and reared in Palamau.[4]

Worship

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Bir Kuar is often worshipped in form of wooden posts, made by carpenters from the mixed Ahir-Brahmin class. This wooden post is erected in open field to "fertilize she-buffaloes".[5][6] In these posts, he is depicted in standing arms-akimbo.[1] Bir Kuar is offered goat sacrifices. He is also offered clay horses, on the fulfilment of a vow.[5] Bir Kuar is also worshipped in times of distress.[7]

He is worshipped in 16-day festival called Sohorai (in October), which corresponds to festival of Diwali, celebrated in honour of the Hindu goddess of prosperity - Lakshmi. Ballads describing his exploits are sung during the festival. Bir Kuar is worshipped by offering of milk and erecting his icons in open fields.[8]

Associations

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Bir Kuar is often associated with Krishna. Bir Kuar is depicted as flute-playing cowherd like Krishna. He acts like a ferryman like Krishna, helping milkmaids cross the river and having dalliance with them.[9]

Bir Kuar is sometimes associated with the god Vithoba of Maharashtra - who is believed to be a form of Krishna too and depicted in an arms-akimbo posture like Bir Kuar.[1][10][11] Images similar to Bir Kuar are found in states of Maharashtra.[12][1]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Tagare, Dr. G. V. (1988). "Mahipati - A General Survey". In Justin E. Abbott, Narhar R. Godbole (ed.). Stories of Indian saints. Motilal Banarsidass. p. xxxiv. ISBN 978-81-208-0469-2.
  2. ^ Starza p. 108
  3. ^ Karan pp. 62-64
  4. ^ Karan p. 65
  5. ^ a b Hiltebeitel, Alf (1991). The Cult of Draupadī: On Hindu ritual and the goddess. Vol. 2. University of Chicago Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-226-34048-7.
  6. ^ Starza p. 107, for images of wooden post of Bir Kuar.
  7. ^ Karan p. 67
  8. ^ Karan pp. 62, 65
  9. ^ Karan pp. 64-65
  10. ^ Eaton, Richard Maxwell (2005). A Social History of the Deccan, 1300–1761: Eight Indian Lives. Cambridge University Press. p. 139. ISBN 0-521-25484-1. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  11. ^ Vaudeville, Charlotte (1987). Schomer, Karine; McLeod, W. H. (eds.). The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 223–24. ISBN 81-208-0277-2. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  12. ^ Mahīpati; Justin Edwards Abbott; Narhar R. Godbole (November 1988). Stories of Indian Saints: Translation of Mahipati's Marathi Bhaktavijaya. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 34–. ISBN 978-81-208-0469-2. Retrieved 30 March 2018.

References

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Further reading

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