An Unknown Story of a Known Face

Most of us will be familiar seeing a face staring from various buildings, houses, complex etc. You can also notice such figurines lurking in roadside waiting for some one to buy. Well, this is a common face in India known to everyone, especially in South. However, do we know there is a folk story of this face?

Well, if someone asks what is this or why it is placed on any buildings, the most common response we get is – it’s a “dristi bombe”. A doll kept scaring away the evil eyes.

From childhood most of us would have heard similar answer – it is a distract kept on top of any good, expensive building which will reduce the impact of any wicked senses, and keep such place safe, isn’t it? I was in assumption for many years and never bothered to find the details behind it until recently came across a mythological story related to it.

Yes, there is a story embedded in our famous classic Mahabharata…!!

Just before the start of Kurukshetra war, Krishna was thinking about the upcoming war and came across an archer who was practicing with great precise. Looking at his talent he spent some more time observing him and in one aim practice, archer shoots down all but 5 ½ leaves from a tree in a single arrow. Krishna was impressed at this talent but also curious to know why 5 ½ leaves was left and ask the archer.

Archer introduces himself as Urdhvaroma, son of Bheema and says when the Kurukshetra war happens, he will take side of Pandava’s and eliminate all others in the war. Thus those 5 leaves are of Pandava’s and ½ for Krishna.

Though Krishna is impressed with Urdhvaroma, he doesn’t want to these to happen, since his vision for the war was different and Urdhvaroma’ s presence will eliminate the very purpose of war. Krishna asks him to join him for further journey towards camp.

In the camp, Pandava’s were performing a Havan and as part of ritual they need to sacrifice a living creature.

Krishna entrusts this to Urdhvaroma, asking him to get a creature which has scary face and full of straightened hairs, without which Pandava’s can’t complete the Havan and may not be able to win the war.

Urdhvaroma having taken side of Pandava’s start searching for that description, but never to be found. Tired of roaming and thirsty, he goes to a pond for water. Just when he bends to gulp some water, his reflection is seen in pond and that gives a shock to him. Yes, his face is comparable to Krishna’s ask for sacrifice. He realizes, it is his life been asked for the victory of Pandava’s.

With sadness but determined, Urdhvaroma returns to the camp and lies down beneath a cloth, on the bench kept for the creature.

Krishna asks Bheema to sacrifice the creature beneath the cloth by chopping off the parts from toe onwards. Bheema follows the instructions, without realizing who is lying there.

Up on reaching neck, while the creature is still alive, Bheema feels awry and unveils the cloth, to see the horror of his son been chopped by him as sacrifice for war.

Too late to reversible, Bheema is disheartened by his act however needs to move forward.

Urdhvaroma seeks blessings from Bheema and ask Krishna if he can be alive till the war ends, which is granted and his head is kept in safe distance, to watch all 18 days war of Kurukshetra.

Not only that, for the great sacrifice Urdhvaroma did by offering his own life, he is also blessed that he will be remembered forever by keeping his head replica in front of all houses for generations to come and he will safeguard such places from evil eyes.

 

Note: This story may not appear in all the versions of the Mahabharata. However, there are so many stories and sub stories connected with this great classic and in one of such folk stories, came across this incident.

There can be various other versions of Urdhvaroma or Dristi Bombe concept. There are numerous stories around the arrow and conversation follows, however, this is an attempt to capture the stories read and heard from different sources. Have referred numerous articles, stories videos, plays, spoke to elders in family for information and got this created. If not for originality, you can treat this as a simple story on bravery and sacrifice.