Janmashtami 2020: Why is Karmayogi Krishna called Ranchod?

The child form of God is worshiped on the day of Shri Krishna Janmashtami.  But Lord Krishna is known by different names in his devotees and some stories are associated with each name.  A similar story comes from the land of Bundelkhand, which tells the most unique leela of Lord Krishna.  This is the same incident, which is also mentioned in Srimad Bhagwatgita.  So let us know what happened in Vindhya hills that Karmayogi Krishna became Ranchod.

Mohan left the battlefield in the war with Jarasandha

There was a time in the life of Shri Krishna when he realized his goodness in not leaving the field without confronting his enemy.  This incident is when Mahabali Magadharaj Jarasandha challenged Krishna to battle.  Jarasandha also convinced a king named Kaal Yavan to go to war with Krishna.  Actually, Lord Shankar had given a boon to Kaal Yavan that neither Chandravanshi nor Suryavanshi would ever spoil him.  No weapon can be scrapped by him nor can anyone beat him with his force.  In such a situation it was very difficult to kill him.  At the behest of Jarasandha, Kalayavan invaded Mathura without any enmity.  Since saffron Krishna was aware of his boon, he knew that he could not be defeated in battle.

Shri Krishna flees from battlefield to Muchukand Cave  

Krishna escaped from the battlefield and reached a cave.  Seeing Shri Krishna and Balarama running away, Jarasandha started laughing at them.  But Jarasandha had no idea that Shri Krishna had run away from this war and hid in the same cave where King Muchkund was sleeping with Tretayug after fighting with the demons.

Kalayavan died by being trapped in the path of Shri Krishna

Indra gave a boon to King Muchkund that any person who wakes you from sleep will be burnt to death.  In such a situation, Lord Krishna brought Kaal Yavan to that cave, chasing him.  Where King Muchkund was sleeping.  Lord Krishna put his Pitambara over King Muchkund in the cave.  Kalayavan considered him Krishna and kicked and woke him.  Kalayavan got burnt as soon as King Muchukand woke up.

Muchukand Caves in Lalitpur District

The Machukand cave in which Kalayavan died is currently in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh.  Muchkund caves are found in the middle of the forests of Dhorra region, about 30 km from Lalitpur district headquarters.  These are mentioned in chapter 50, 51, 52 of Dasam Skanda of Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran.  In this cave, the gods and gods of God used to come and sometimes reside.

Temple of Ranchhodar on the banks of river Vetravati

On the banks of Vetravati, King Muchkund also installed the divine idol of Shri Krishna.  Now that the temple of Ranchod God has been built.  The temple, which is considered to be around 5 thousand years old, has a statue of God, for which devotees reach here from far away.