Ranchhod — The Lord Who Left the Battlefield

Krishna came to be called "Ranchhod" for leaving the battlefield at Mathura to protect his people from Jarasandha and Kalayavana. At Dakor in Gujarat he is worshipped as Ranchhodrai.

"Ran" means battle and "chhod" means to leave. It may sound strange to call the almighty Lord the one who left the battlefield, yet this name holds his compassion and wisdom. Devotees speak it with great pride and affection.

According to the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, after Kamsa was slain, his father-in-law Jarasandha attacked Mathura again and again with huge armies, and was defeated each time. Then Kalayavana also marched against the city. To spare the people of Mathura from endless war, Krishna built the city of Dwarka in the sea and moved them all there. Then, unarmed, he ran before Kalayavana and led him into a mountain cave where King Muchukunda lay asleep. Kalayavana kicked the sleeping king, thinking him to be Krishna, and the moment Muchukunda's gaze fell on him he was burnt to ashes.

This name is especially dear in Gujarat. According to tradition, Bodana, a devotee from Dakor, walked to Dwarka every year, and when he grew old the Lord himself came with him to Dakor. Today the Lord is enthroned there as Ranchhodrai, and on full-moon days, above all Sharad Purnima and Phalgun Purnima, hundreds of thousands of devotees walk to Dakor for his darshan.

Name Sa

रणछोड

Name Roman

Ranchhod

Meaning

one who left the battlefield (for the good of his people)

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10 (Jarasandha, Kalayavana, Muchukunda); Dakor temple tradition