Muchukund

Machkund is religious shrine in Dhaulpur, Rajasthan. Machkund is a place where shri krishna killed kalyawan throgh Raja Machkund who was sleeping inside a den.

Hindu Mythology

Raja Machkund was blessed by Devraj indra that he remain slept as much he want but if somebuddy disturbed him and when he open his eyes and watch toward that person he will got destroyed. Kal yaman was more powerful then shri krishna so shri krishna take him to that den where raja machkund was sleeping and put his cloth on sleeping machkund. Kal yaman thought that krishan is sleeping and start pushing him. Raja machkund opened his eyes as soon he watched kal yaman kal yaman destroyed. So in this way shri krishan destroyed kal yaman through raja machkund. This place is named after that machkund. This is shrine for hindues but when guru hargobind jee arrived here this shrine got more popularity and spirituality. There is a water hole over here and it is believed that bathing in that waterhole will give fruit of 68 tiraths.

Sikh History

Guru hargobind jee hunted a lion here where now a famous gurudwara Gurudwara Sher Shikar is situated. Guru ji, on a hunt with the Emperor Jahangir had arrived at machkund on 4th march, 1612 and staying in Bhamtipura village. The head of that area told Jahangir about a lion that had turned maneater asking him to kill the lion. The lion is said to have attacked in the direction of the emperor whose shots as well of the others hunting with him had all missed the lion. That is when the young Guru, whose father had been killed after Jahangir had ordered his arrest, jumped to his defense.

Jumping from his horse to the ground he thwarted the lion's attack. It has come down through history that Guru Hargobind called out to the lion, "Ae kale yaman pehlan toon war kar lae kidre tere man di iccha baaki na reh jaye", as the lion jumped upon him. The Guru raised his shield and swung his sword almost slashing the lion in half. Jahangir was no doubt thankful. Later at Gwalior Guru Hargobind ended up being held at Gwalior fort.

Conflicting stories tell of his stay there, but unlike his father he was never tortured. As his confinement there stretched beyond weeks to months, he told his worried Sangat that all woulld end well and even refused to leave when the Emperor ordered his release. In fact, he managed to free 52 Rajas (princes) who had long been prisoners of the fort. In a famous story which includes his getting around an order that the Emperor had given intending to allow only a few to be released, he managed by cleverly using Jahangirs exact wording to win the release of all 52. That day is celebrated around the world yearly by Sikhs, with much festivity, as Bandi Chhorh Divas.

Refrences

Ӫ From a book named Sher Shikar Machkund, written by rajinder singh soofi, Amritsar