6

Why Krishna is called Ranchhod or Ranchhod ray. In Gujarat we also sing Jay Ranchhod Makhanchor.

Improve this question
5
  • No, This name was given by Krishna's enemy with whom Krishna refused to fight. :)
    – prem30488
    May 23, 2016 at 11:38
  • This was given as he left war field while fighting with Kalyavan as he had boon not to be killed by solar and lunar races and weapons... he was killed by eyesight of Muchukunda...
    – Tezz
    May 23, 2016 at 12:04
  • I have heard a story of Kalyavan who wants to fight with krishna but he ran away in a cave in which Muchkund was sleeping. Muchkund ended Kalyavan's life.
    – Triyugi Narayan Mani
    May 23, 2016 at 12:08
  • 1
    There is also a related question here: hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/9262/… but the answers have different story
    – Triyugi Narayan Mani
    May 23, 2016 at 12:10
  • Here is the story with the reason: samharshbangalore.blogspot.in/2013/01/…
    – Amit Saxena
    May 30, 2016 at 12:01

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

"Rann" means "battlefield" & "chhod" means "abandon". The one who abandons a battlefield usually out of fear or other concerns can be termed as "Rannchhod".
Krishna lived his majority of life as Leela, where he showed various colors (Rasa-s). "Fear" was one of them. Krishna was Not a freak (ghora/extreme) of any particular good/bad virtue; he had it all balanced.

This derogatory name might have been coined because of Krishna along with other Yadu-s running away [from a possible battle] against JarAsandha (father in law of Kansa). There can be other stories too, but not find-able in current version of MahAbhArata.
In Krishna's words from Sabha Parva:

Then the widow of Kansa and the daughter of Jarasandha, that handsome woman with eyes like lotus-petals, grieved at the death of her lord, went unto her father, and repeatedly urged, O Monarch, the king of Magadha, saying,--O slayer of all foes, kill thou the slayer of my husband.--Then, O great king, remembering the conclusion to which we had come of old we became exceedingly cheerless and fled from Mathura. Dividing our large wealth into small portions so as to make each portion easily portable, we fled from fear of Jarasandha, with our cousins and relatives. Reflecting upon everything, we fled towards the west.

Later they all landed & settled in Dwaraka, Gujarat. This "insulting" name is also celebrated as part of his colourful life! Other such names, which were derogatory but now celebrated are:

  • Makhhan-chor ("butter stealer")
  • Gau-pal ("cowherd")
  • Even Krishna ("dark") itself may be considered racist in today's time

Note: Now I recall that, I had observed this passage in this answer a long time back. Not sure if these 2 Qn-s can be duplicates or independent.

Improve this answer
3
  • Nice to see u active here again..BTW, Ran simply means battle, whereas Ranabhumi or Ranakshetra will mean battlefield.. Right?
    – Rickross
    Jul 3, 2017 at 5:12
  • 1
    @Rickross, thx. Actually "Rann" means "Desert" (e.g. the Rann of Kutchh). In earlier times the battle used to take place in deserted places to avoid involuntary killing of citizens and crops/trees. In the context of Rannchhod, Rann can be expanded as "Rannbhumi" or "RannmaidAn". Moreover this term of "Rannchhod" is more popular in Gujarat & Rajasthan areas. Though this term is historical, but IMK not from Mahabharata times.
    – iammilind
    Jul 3, 2017 at 5:20
  • I too strongly believe that this whole episodes of leaving the battlefield are Shree-Krishnas devine leelas.And he does this acts with deep intention ,of protecting his people and animals.
    – SwiftPushkar
    Jul 3, 2017 at 6:22

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .