Lord Krishna Story: Lord Vishnu, the sustainer of the world, incarnated in the form of Shri Krishna to establish religion on earth in the Dwapara Yuga. Shri Krishna was the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In Dwapar Yuga, Lord Shri Krishna killed many demons including his maternal uncle Kansa. Shri Krishna is called by many names like Giridhar, Muralidhar, Madhusudan, Yashoda or Devaki Nandan, Gopal, Chakradhari and Shyam. Ranchhod is included in these names.

Lord Shri Krishna is also called by the name of Ranchod. Shri Krishna could kill anyone, but there came an occasion when Shri Krishna had to leave the battlefield and run away. This is why he was named Ranchhod. He was God, then why did he need to leave the battle? This question also comes in people's mind. Actually, there is a mysterious story behind this. Let us know in detail.

Jarasandha challenged Shri Krishna to war

Magadha king Jarasandha was the father-in-law of Lord Krishna's maternal uncle Kansa. By killing Kansa, God freed the entire Braj region including Mathura from his atrocities. Jarasandha wanted to take revenge from Lord Krishna for the death of Kansa, that is why Jarasandha once challenged Lord Krishna for a war. He was not alone. He had also taken King Kalayavan of Yavana country with him to fight with Shri Krishna.

Kalayavan had received a boon from God Mahadev. Therefore neither any Chandravanshi nor any Suryavanshi could defeat him in the war. Neither any weapon could kill him nor anyone could defeat him with his own strength. Due to this boon, Kalayavan started considering himself immortal and invincible. On the request of Jarasandha, he attacked Mathura with his army.

That's why God ran away from the battlefield

Since Shri Krishna knew that it was not possible to kill Kalayavan by force. Nor can his Sudarshan Chakra kill him. So he decided that he would leave the battlefield and run away. After this he left the battlefield and ran away into a dark cave. In the cave where Shri Krishna was hiding, King Muchkund of South Kosala was sleeping in deep sleep. He had received a boon from Indra that whoever woke him from sleep would be burnt to ashes. Shri Krishna knew this. He brought Kalayavan following him to that cave.

After this, to confuse Kalayavan, he threw his Pitambara on King Muchkund. When King Muchkund saw Kalayavan, he thought that he was Shri Krishna. Therefore, thinking him to be Shri Krishna, he woke up King Muchkund from his sleep. As soon as King Muchkund woke up from sleep, Kalayavan was burnt to ashes right there. Actually, Shri Krishna had created this entire leela for the end of Kalayavan.