The legend of Shyam Baba can be traced back to the medieval Mahabharata. Barbareek  was the son of the great Pandava brother - Bhim and Nag Kanya - Ahilawati. Barbareek,  from his childhood was very brave and a great warrior. He learnt the art of fighting from his  mother. Lord Shiva, pleased with him, gave him the three infallible Arrows (Teen Baan)  and Agni Dev (Fire God) gave him the Bow, which would make him victorious in the three  worlds.

  The battle of Mahabharata was inevitable  between the Pandavas and Kauravas, and having  got the news, Barbareek wanted to witness the  Great War. He promised to his mother, that if he  felt the urge, to participate in the battle, he would  join the side, which would be losing. He rode on  the Blue Horse (Leela Ghora) equipped with the  three arrows and the bow. The omnipresent Lord  Krishna, disguising himself as a Brahmin,  stopped Barbareek to examine his strength. He  even tried to mock Barbareek saying that he was  going to the great battle with only three arrows.

  On this, Barbareek replied that only one arrow  was enough to destroy all the enemies in the  war, and it would then return to his quiver. If all  the three were used, it would create havoc in the  three worlds. Lord Krishna challenged him to tie  all the leaves of the peepal tree under which he  was standing, with one arrow. Barbareek  accepted the challenge removed one arrow from  his quiver and released it  from his bow.