He was Bhaktashiromani by devotion and Maharathi by war

- Nitish Dambal, Dharwad

King Bahlika was the incarnation of Shri Raghavendra Swamy in Dwapara Yuga. Shankukarna, a prominent devotee of Lord Vishnu had the duty to assist Lord Brahma in his daily worship and rituals. Watching the worship of Lord Vishnu by Brahma, Shankukarna too desired to worship Lord Vishnu. 

In order to fulfill his desire, Brahma guided him for four incarnations on earth. To propagate the glory of Lord Vishnu his great devotee Shankukarna incarnated as Prahlada in Satya Yuga, Bahlika in Dwapara and Shri Vyasateertha and very popular Shri Raghavendra Swami in Kaliyuga. 

Bahlika was the eldest son of Pratiparaja of Kuru vamsha (clan). As he was adopted by king of Bahlika, his sibling Shantanu caused for the growth of Kuru vamsha. As per Shri Madhwacharya’s writing in ‘Taatparanirnaya’, when Bahlika was born, there was massive sound which indicated atheists that a ‘Bhagavatottama’ (propagator of Shri Krishna) incarnated on earth. 

Shri Krishna said, ‘dharma sansthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge’ which means, he often incarnated to establish Dharma. With the same motive and to support Shri Krishna, Shankukarna born as Bahlika in Dwapara Yuga. Bahlika was present in all the major incidents of Mahabharata including coronation of Yudhishtira as prince, dice game between Shakuni and Yudhishtira, Kurukshetra war etc. 

King Bahlika preached shastras, significance of Bhagavata dharma, spirituality, utmost devotion to Lord Vishnu, sympathy, goodness, peace, meditating Shri Hari etc. throughout his life. Due to this he was regarded as ‘Bhakta Shiromani’. 

Besides, King Bahlika was a great warrior too and was a ‘Maharathi’ in war field. Knowing his strength, Kourava Duryodhana pleased him to join his party in Kurukshetra war and succeeded in it. He was the eldest warrior fought there. Though Bahlika was uninterested to fight against Pandavas, he desired to attain death by Bheemasena.

King Bahlika fought against Bheemasena with ‘shatagni’ weapon received by Lord Brahma. It was a hazardous weapon that anyone could die of it, but as Bheema was the strongest, it did nothing to him. As the war continued between two, Bahlika was hit by the mace of Bheema and thereby his incarnation of Dwapara Yuga concluded.