All Glories to Lord Balaram! Appearance Day 4th Aug'2001

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All Glories to Lord Balaram! Appearance Day 4th Aug'2001

 

The following is a compilation of stories, anecdotes, and bits of

information about Lord Balarama. It was gathered from different

publications, books and lectures, in the hopes that it will help myself and

others remember Lord Balarama on this His glorious appearance day. I realize

that in no way is this work definitive or complete and so I welcome any

other information that may be available. I also realize that I am part of

this material world and I have flawed senses therefore it is possible that I

have made errors, but I would ask that anyone who reads this would please

forgive me as I am only trying to render some small service. Thank you for

your time and consideration and....

 

ALL GLORIES TO LORD BALARAMA

 

Compiled by Ahovala Nrsingh das

As a meager offering to my spiritual master

His Holiness Gour Govinda Swami

 

APPEARANCE

Sri Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is equal in

supremacy to the Supreme Godhead, yet wherever Krishna appears, Sri Baladeva

appears as Krishna's brother, sometimes elder, sometimes younger. In his

vaibhava-prakasa feature, Lord Krishna manifests Himself as Balarama. The

Balarama feature is as good as Krishna Himself, the only difference being

that

the bodily hue of Krishna is dark and that of Balarama is fair. These two

Lords, Krishna and Balarama, are each the seed and womb of the universe, the

Creator and His Creative potency. They enter the hearts of living beings and

control their conditioned awareness. They are the primeval supreme.

(Appreciating Sri Vrdavana Dhama, pg. 110)

 

Yogamaya transferred Ananta Sesa (Balarama) from the womb of Devaki to the

womb of Rohini. Seven months later during the most auspicious moment in

Sravana month, Rohini, just like a lioness gave birth to Lord Balarama

feeling all happiness. His complexion was just like a white lotus flower and

He looked like the full moon. His eyes were brilliant like lightning flashes

and his hair was the color of a new cloud yet brilliant like the sun. Such

extraordinary beauty prevailed because He was none other than the Lord

Sankarsana. Astrologers said that He would have long arms and kill

Pralambasura; that He would have a younger brother and kill many other

demons. They said He is Dhenupal, the protector of cows an the killer of

Dhenekasura. The brahmanas under Vasudeva's order performed the jata karma

samskara ceremony. Though He was extremely beautiful, everyone was extremely

anxious because He was mute and inactive. No one could get Him to make a

sound or move. Once when Yasoda was pregnant, she picked Him up and

carefully placed Him on her lap next to her heart where Krishna was

residing, Balarama immediately began to laugh and play like a blissful

child. But when Yasoda would set Him down, again he would become inactive.

He remained in this condition until the appearance of His younger brother

(Krishna). (Sri Vrndavana Dhama, Newsletter, Janmastami 1993, pg. 6)

 

CHILDHOOD

During their formative years Sri Balarama and his younger brother Sri

Krishna played and acted just like normal cowherd boys except for the events

brought about by the unkind acts of certain demons these extraordinary

activities were played out for the enjoyment and salvation of jivas in the

material world. Krishna and his brother Balarama passed the childhood age

known as kaumara and stepped into the age known as paugunda, from the sixth

year up to the tenth.

 

At that time all the cowherd men conferred and agreed to give those boys who

had passed their fifth year charge of the cows in the pasturing ground.

Given charge of the cows, Krishna and Balarama traversed Vrndavana,

purifying the land with Their footprints. Accompanied by the cowherd boys

and Balarama, Krishna herded the cows and played on His flute through the

forest of Vrndavana, which was full of flowers, vegetables, and pasturing

grass. The Vrndavana forest was sanctified as the clear mind of a devotee

and was full of bees, flowers and fruits. There were chirping birds and

clear lakes with waters that could relieve one of all fatigue.

Sweet-fragranced breezes blew always, refreshing the mind and body. Seeing

the favorable situation, Krishna, Balarama, and Their cowherd friends

entered the forest and enjoyed the atmosphere to the fullest extent. Krishna

saw that all the trees, overloaded as they were with fruits and fresh twigs,

were bending down to touch the ground as if welcoming Him by touching His

lotus feet. He was very pleased by the behavior of the trees, fruits and

flowers, and, He began to smile, realizing their desires.

 

Krishna then spoke to Balarama as follows; "My dear brother, You are

superior to all of us, and Your lotus feet are worshipped by the demigods.

Just see how these trees, full of fruits, have bent down to worship Your

lotus feet! It appears that they are trying to get out of the darkness of

being obliged to

accept the form of trees. Actually, the trees born in the land of Vrndavana

are not ordinary living entities. Having held the impersonal point of view

in their past lives, they now have the opportunity of seeing you in

Vrndavana, and they are praying for further advancement in spiritual life

through Your personal association.

 

"The herbs, creepers, and grass are also fortunate to touch Your lotus feet.

And by Your touching twigs with Your hands, these small plants are also made

glorious. As for the hills and rivers, they too are now glorious because You

are now glancing at them. Above all, the damsels of Vraja, the Gopis,

attracted by Your beauty, are most glorious, for You embrace them with Your

strong arms."

 

In this way Krishna and Balarama enjoyed in the forest of Vrndavana to Their

fullest satisfaction, along with the cows and the cowherd boys Once the

cowherd friends of Krishna and Balarama told Them, "In the Talavan forest

many fruits are falling from the trees, and many are lying on the

ground. But all the fruits are being guarded by the evil Dhenuka. O Rama! O

Krishna! Dhenuka is a most powerful demon in the form of an ass. He is

surrounded by many friends who have assumed similar shapes and who are just

as powerful as he. Dhenuka has eaten men alive, and therefore all people and

animals are terrified of going to the Tala forest. O killer of the enemy,

even the birds are afraid to fly there. In the Tala forest are

sweet-smelling fruits no one has ever tasted. Indeed, even now we can smell

the fragrance of the tala fruits spreading all about. O Krishna! Please get

those fruits for us. Our minds are so attracted by their aroma! Dear

Balarama, our desire to have those fruits is very great. If you think it's a

good idea too, let's go to that Tala forest."

 

Hearing the words of Their dear companions, Krishna and Balarama laughed

and, desiring to please them, set off for the Tala forest surrounded by

Their cowherd boyfriends. Lord Balarama entered the Tala forest first. With

His arms he began shaking the trees with the power of a maddened elephant,

causing the tala fruits to fall to the ground. Hearing the sound of the

falling fruits, the ass demon Dhenuka ran to attack Balarama, making the

earth and trees tremble. The powerful demon rushed up to Lord Balarama and

sharply struck His chest with the hooves of his hind legs. Then Dhenuka

began to run about, braying loudly.

 

Again the furious ass rushed toward Balarama and situated himself with his

back toward the Lord. Then screaming in rage, the demon hurled his hind legs

toward Him. Lord Balarama seized Dhenuka by his hooves, whirled him about

with one hand, and threw him into the top of a palm tree. The violent

wheeling motion killed the demon. Lord Balarama threw the dead body of

Dhenukasura into the tallest palm tree in the forest, and when the body

landed in the treetop the tree began shaking. The great palm tree first

caused a tree by it's side to shake, and then it broke under the weight of

the demon. As the second tree shook it caused a third one to shake. In this

way a chain reaction was created, and many trees in the forest shook and

broke.

 

Thoroughly enraged by the death of Dhenuka, the remaining ass demons ran to

attack Krishna and Balarama. As the demons attacked, Krishna and Balarama

easily seized them one after another by their hind legs and threw them all

into the tops of the palm trees. (Krishna Book vol. 1, pg. 113)

One day while Krishna and Balarama and Their cowherd friends were tending

the cows in the Vrndavana forest, the demon Pralamba entered their midst. He

had assumed the form of a cowherd boy with the intentions of kidnapping

Krishna and Balarama. Since Lord Krishna sees everything, he understood who

the demon was. Still, the Lord pretended to accept the demon as a

friend-while at the same time considering how to kill him. Krishna assembled

the cowherd boys and divided them into two even teams. After the cowherd

boys had chosen Krishna and Balarama as the leaders of the two teams, the

boys began to play various games involving carriers and passengers.

 

In these games the winners would climb up on the back of the losers, who

would have to carry them. Thus carrying and being carried by one another,

and at the same time tending the cows, the boys went to a banyan tree known

as Bhandiraka. When Sridama, Vrsabha, and the other members of Lord

Balarama's party were victorious in these games, Krishna and His followers

had to carry them. Thus Krishna had to carry Sridama, Bhadrasena had to

carry Vrsabha, and Pralamba had to carry Balarama.

 

Considering Lord Krishna invincible, the demon Pralamba quickly carried

Balarama far beyond the spot where he was supposed to put his passenger

down. As the great demon carried Balarama, the Lord became as massive as

mount Sumeru, and Pralamba had to slow down. Prlambasura then resumed his

actual form-an effulgent body that was covered with golden ornaments and

that resembled a cloud flashing with lightning and carrying the moon. When

Lord Balarama saw the gigantic body of the demon as he moved swiftly in the

sky-with his blazing eyes, fiery hair, terrible teeth reaching toward his

scowling brows, and amazing effulgence generated by his armlets, crown and

earrings-the Lord seemed to become a little frightened. Remembering the

actual situation, the fearless Balarama understood that the demon was trying

to kidnap Him and take Him away from His companions. The Lord then became

furious and struck the demon's head with His hard fist, just as Indra, the

king of the demigods, strikes a mountain with his thunderbolt weapon. Thus

smashed by Balarama's fist, Pralamba's head immediately cracked open. The

demon vomited blood from his mouth and lost all consciousness, and then with

a great noise he fell lifeless to the ground, like a mountain devastated by

Indra. The cowherd boys were most astonished to see how the powerful

Balarama had killed the demon Pralamba, and they exclaimed, "Excellent!

Excellent!" They

offered Balarama profuse benedictions and glorified Him. Their minds

overwhelmed with ecstatic love, they embraced Him as if He had returned from

the dead. (Krishna Book Vol. I, pg. 133)

The demons killed by Lord Balarama represent different anarthas which are as

follows: Dhenukasura and other asses- Ignorance of the truth due to idiocy;

loss of knowledge of one's spiritual identity, ignorance concerning the

non-difference of Krishna and His name and ignorance of our relationship

with Krishna. The killing of Pralambasura- removes licentiousness, personal

gain,

worship and honor."

 

"If a devotee cries out humbly and sincerely to Lord Sri Krishna to remove

these demoniac qualities which are represented by the demons killed by Lord

Krishna, then Sri Krishna Himself will remove those evils. But the devotees

must personally work to drive out the anarthas represented by the demons

killed by Lord Balarama. This is a mystery of Vraja bhajan. The aspirant

must personally remove these strong impediments with his best care and

efforts and by obtaining the mercy of Krishna. If the devotee's humility

becomes very deep and intense, Krishna will be merciful. In that case, the

feeling of Lord Balarama will arise in his mind and quickly destroy these

demoniac qualities. Then one will gradually improve his cultivation of

Bhajan"

 

Srila Prabhupada offers further enlightenment about the powerful mercy of

Lord Balarama. "The word of knowledge is given by Krishna, and when one

serves the guru and Krishna in order to hold the sword of Krishna's

instructions, Balarama gives one strength. Balarama is Nityananda. Thus one

should accept the sword of knowledge from Krishna and be strong with the

mercy of Balarama. We are therefore worshipping Krishna-Balarama in

Vrndavana. (Appreciating Sri Vrndvana Dhama,, pg. 153) Sometimes Krishna and

Balarama would play on Their flutes; sometimes They would throw ropes and

stones devised for getting fruits from the trees; sometimes Krishna and

Balarama would only throw stones; and sometimes, Their anklebells tinkling,

Krishna and Balarama would play football with the fruits like amalaki.

Sometimes Krishna and Balarama would cover Themselves with

blankets and imitate the cows and fight one another, roaring loudly, and

sometimes Krishna and Balarama would imitate the voices of the

animals.(Appreciating Sri Vrdavana Dhama, pg. 130)

 

Lord Balarama is called "Douji" (the elder brother who protects and cares

for the younger brother). After lifting Govardhana Hill Lord Krishna killed

a succession of ferocious demons including Sankasura and Aristasura.

Balarama hadn't killed a demon for a long time, and He was concerned about

His duty of protecting Krishna as His elder brother. Desiring to dress like

Krishna, Lord Balarama asked Krishna if He could wear His peacock feather

and play Krishna's flute for just one day. Krishna who dearly loved His

elder brother, agreed and personally gave His peacock feather and flute to

Balarama. Krishna and Balarama warmly embraced and then Balarama laughing

happily, ran away playing gaily on Krishna's flute. Meanwhile, in Mathura,

the wicked King Kamsa was about to send the horse demon, Keshi, to Vrndavana

in order to kill Krishna. The Keshi demon asked King Kamsa, "How will I

recognize Krishna?"

 

Kamsa told him that it would be easy to tell, because Krishna would be the

only person wearing a peacock feather and playing a flute. While Balaramaji

was fully enjoying His pastime of being Krishna for the day, the fierce

horse demon, Keshi, stormed into Vrndavana. Seeing Balarama

wearing a peacock feather in his crown and playing a flute, matching the

description King Kamsa had given of Krishna, the Keshi demon roared up and

gave Balarama a mighty kick that could have killed a full grown elephant.

This kick totally knocked the wind out of Balarama, and sent Him tumbling

out of the demon's sight. Thinking that he had killed Krishna, the Keshi

demon galloped away. Balaramaji, picking Himself up, began to cry.

Balarama's chest still hurt from the demon's kick and He was short of

breath. Balarama was hungry, very tired and sore all over from tumbling so

far.

 

Reaching home, Balarama immediately went to Krishna an returned His flute

and peacock feather. Balarama told Krishna that he never again wanted to

wear them, and that a huge horse demon had just violently kicked Him;

thinking He was Krishna. Then Balaramaji met His mother Rohini and fell

asleep in her arms. Krishna replaced the peacock feather in His crown,

tucked the flute back in His belt and walked into the village. Then Sri

Krishna met the horrible horse demon and effortlessly killed him.

 

Srila Prabhupada writes, "Lord Balarama is the original Vishnu; therefore

anyone remembering these pastimes of Lord Balarama in the morning and the

evening will certainly become a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, and thus his life will become successful in all

respects."(Appreciating Sri Vrdavana Dhama, pg. 113)

 

Lord Balarama is constantly serving Lord Krishna in every respect. In all of

Krishna's incarnations and manifestations. In Rama-lila, Balarama serves

Lord Ramachandra as His younger Brother, Laxmana. In Kali-yuga, Sri Balarama

spreads the Sankirtan movement of Sri Caitanya as Lord Nityananda. Lord

Balarama serves Sri Krishna in all five rasas (mellows), santa to madhurya

rasa. In santa rasa Lord Balarama fulfills Sri Krishna's desires for

blissful transcendental pastimes by expanding Himself as the holy dhama of

Vraja Mandala. All of Krishna's personal possessions such as Krishna's

crown, bed, clothes, throne, ornaments; and any other objects that Krishna

utilizes are all expansions of Lord Balarama. As Krishna's cowherd friend

and elder brother in sakhya rasa, Sri Balarama sometimes accepts service

from Krishna after defeating Him in a wrestling match. But generally,

Balarama's fraternal feelings are mixed with servitude (dasya rasa) and

parental affection (vatsalya rasa). In the mood of vatsalya rasa, Sri

Balarama sometimes protects Krishna as a parent or chastises Him as the

elder. Once Lord Balarama told Subala, "my dear friend, please inform

Krishna not to go to Kaliya today. Today is Krishna's birthday, and so I

wish to go along with Mother Yasoda to bathe Him. Tell Krishna He should not

leave the house today!" This shows how Balarama, Krishna's elder brother

took care of Krishna with parental love, within the scope of fraternal

affection.

 

The splendor of Lord Balarama's transcendental form eclipses many millions

of glistening rising moons, and the slightest scent of His boundless

strength is sufficient to destroy many armies of demons. Although He knows

the supernatural power of His younger brother Krishna, still, out of love

for Him, Balarama never leaves Krishna alone in the forest even for a

moment. I offer

my prayers to Lord Balarama, the enemy of Dhenukasura. (Appreciating Sri

Vrdavana Dhama, pg. 111)

 

MADHURYA RASA

 

Lord Balarama can expand Himself into unlimited and different forms. In

order to serve Krishna's intimate conjugal pastimes in madhurya rasa, Lord

Balarama expands Himself as Ananga Manjari. Ananga Manjari wears beautiful

clothing the color of a blue lotus flower and she is especially dear to

Lalita and Visakha. Ananga Manjari, a most exquisitely beautiful gopi, is

Srimati Radharani's younger sister. Her complexion is the color of a

springtime ketaki flower.(Appreciating Sri Vrdavana Dhama, pg. 67)

 

LORD BALARAMA IS VRNDAVANA

 

The spiritual planet goloka Vrndavana, the eternal abode of Lord Krishna,

is shaped like the whorl of a lotus flower. Even when the Lord descends to

any one of the mundane planets, He does so by manifesting His own abode as

it is. Vrndavana is compared to a lotus flower because it is incredibly

beautiful, fully alive and can expand and contract.

 

Being a form of Lord Baladeva, Sri Vrndavana-dhama is completely spiritual,

fully cognizant and saturated with unlimited prema for Sri Krishna. The

spiritual lotus of Vraja-dhama fully cooperates with Krishna's desire for

pastimes by expanding and contracting to facilitate His transcendental

movements. Within a short time, for example, Krishna can traverse the

distance between Nandagrama and Vamsivata where He meets nightly with

Radharani.

 

According to material calculations, Vamsivata is thirty-seven miles away

from Nandagrama. But by Sri Balarama's blessings, Krishna arrives there

easily and quickly. In his expansion as Sri Vraja-dhama, Lord Balarama fully

accommodates all the necessary features of Sri Krishna's mind-pleasing

pastimes. This is the inconceivable nature of Sri Krishna and His

transcendental abode of Vrndavana-dhama. The spiritual lotus of Vraja also

arranges for accomplished devotees to effortlessly wander all over Vrdavana

to participate in Radha and Krishna's splendid spiritual pastimes. One day

while Srila Sanatana Gosvami was doing bhajan in Vrndavana, he walked to and

circumambulated Govardhana Hill. Then Sanatana Gosvami walked to Goloka to

perform madhukari, and by evening he returned to Vrndavana to serve his

beloved Deity, Madan-mohan. Serving as the spiritual lotus of Vraja, Sri

Balaramaji enabled Sanatana Gosvami to perform this incredible service of

walking over 108 kilometers in one day.

 

Srila Rupa Gosvami compares Vraja to a lotus: When it blooms fully, the

different sites of Krishna's pastimes appear to be distant from one another.

But after sunset, the lotus contracts, and the places come closer together

to assist the meeting of Srimati Radhika and Sri Krishnacandra.

(Appreciating Sri Vrdavana Dhama, pg. 160) . (to be continued)

 

LORD BALARAMA'S YOUTH

Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama accompanied Akura to the city of Mathura to

kill the evil King Kamsa and to be reunited with Their parents Devaki and

Vasudeva. After revealing to Akura Their other forms of Lord Vishnu and

Ananta Sesa respectively Krishna and Balarama went to the city to dispose

of the evil king. Upon Their arrival in the city the evil King Kamsa tried

several unsuccessful attempts to bar Krishna and Balarama from fulfilling

the inevitable prophecy that They would kill him. Finally Krishna and

Balarama were with Kamsa in a great wrestling arena. Kamsa had his greatest

wrestlers challenge Their Lordships to a fight. The wrestler Canura

addressed Krishna and Balarama with the following words:

 

"O Krishna and Balarama, You two are well respected by courageous men and

are both skillful at wrestling. Having heard of Your prowess, the king has

called You here, wanting to see for himself. You, Krishna, aren't really a

child or even a young man, and neither is Balarama, the strongest of the

strong. Therefore You two should fight powerful wrestlers like us. Accepting

the challenge, Krishna paired off with Canura, and Balarama fought with

Mustika. Seizing each other's hands and locking legs with each other, the

opponents struggled powerfully, eager for victory. They each struck fist

against fist, knees against knees, head against head, and chest against

chest. Each fighter contended with his opponent by dragging him about in

circles, shoving him and crushing him, throwing him down, and running before

and behind him. Forcefully lifting and carrying each other, pushing each

other away, and holding each other down, the fighters appeared to be hurting

even their own bodies in their great eagerness for victory.

 

As Krishna and Balarama fought the huge wrestlers, the women present gazed

upon the two Lords and became enthralled by Their beauty. The ladies said,

'Just see the lotus face of Krishna as he darts around His foe! That face,

covered with drops of perspiration brought on by the strenuous fight,

resembles the whorl of a lotus covered with dew. What austerities the gopis

must have performed to be able to always see His beautiful form!'

 

'Don't you see the face of Lord Balarama, with his eyes copper-red from His

anger toward Mustika and its beauty enhanced by His laughter and His

absorption in the fight?' As the women spoke, Krishna powerfully struck

Canura and began to break every part of his body. Furious, Canura violently

pounded the Lord's chest with both fists. No more shaken by the demon's

mighty blows than an elephant struck with a flower garland, Lord Krishna

grabbed Canura by his arms, swung him around several times, and hurled him

onto the ground with great force. His clothes, hair, and garland scattering,

the wrestler fell down dead like a huge festival column collapsing. Mustika

also struck Balarama, and Balarama returned the blow with great force.

Mustika began to tremble, and blood and vomit flowed from his mouth.

Distressed, he gave up his vital force and fell down just as a tree falls

down during a hurricane. After the two wrestlers were killed, a wrestler

named Kuta came forward. Lord Balarama immediately caught him in His left

hand and killed him nonchalantly. Another wrestler named Sala came forward,

and Krishna immediately kicked him and cracked his head.

 

Shortly thereafter Kamsa was killed by Krishna. Kamsa's eight brothers

headed by Kanka were killed by Lord Balarama with the tusk of the elephant

Kuvalayapida.(Krishna Book Vol. I,pg. 273-

280) The rasas Madhurya and aisvarya are in equal degrees in Mathura. Lord

Krishna and Balarama's killing of Kamsa and his associates illustrates this

point. After killing these demons in the wrestling arena at Mathura, Krishna

approached His parents Devaki and Vasudeva, who just stood looking awestruck

in a mood of total reverence. Since Krishna hadn't seen His parents since

the day He was born (about eleven years), Krishna was expecting some

heartfelt reciprocation of emotions. But Devaki and Vasudeva, seeing Krishna

as the Supreme Lord and not as their son, remained firm in their mood of

aisvarya. Krishna who is always hankering for his devotees' love, began to

cry upon seeing His parents relating to Him in awe and reverence, This

immediately opened Mother Devaki's heart, which flooded with vatsalya rasa.

She took Krishna on her lap, covered His head with

her sari and tried to breast-feed Him. Meanwhile Lord Balarama threw Himself

at the feet of His father. And Vasudeva, overcome with vatsalya rasa, picked

up Balarama, sat Him on his lap, smelled His head and treated Him in a very

loving fatherly way.(Appreciating Sri Vrndavana Dhama, pg. 120)

 

 

Concealing Their innately perfect knowledge by Their human-like activities,

Krishna and Balarama went to Avanti to reside at the school of the learned

spiritual master Sandipani Muni. Sandipani thought very highly of these two

self-controlled disciples, whom he felt so fortunate to have obtained.

Krishna and Balarama served him as devotedly as one would serve the Supreme

Lord Himself, thus showing others an irreproachable example of how to

worship the spiritual master. Satisfied with Their submissive behavior,

Sandipani Muni taught the two Lords the entire Vedas, together with their

six corollaries and the Upanishads. He also taught Them the Dhanur-veda,

with it's most confidential secrets; the standard book of law: the methods

of logical reasoning and philosophical debate: and the sixfold science of

politics.

 

Krishna and Balarama immediately assimilated each and every subject after

hearing it explained just once. Thus with fixed concentration They learned

the sixty-four arts and skills in as many days and nights. Thereafter They

satisfied Their spiritual master by offering him guru-daksina, the

traditional token of remuneration a disciple gives his spiritual master.

When Krishna and Balarama offered Their teacher, Sandipani Muni, anything he

desired, he asked for the return of his son, who had drowned in the ocean at

Prabhasa. The two Lords at once traveled there on Their chariot and ordered

the ocean to return Their guru's son. The ocean explained that he had been

captured and slain by the demon Pancajanya. Krishna in turn slew the demon.

The Lords then went to Samyamani, the abode of Yamaraja., who immediately

returned the child.(Krishna Book Vol. I, pg 281-289)

********************

 

" Powerful Lord Balarama is sixteen years old, full of the luster of youth

and has a fair complexion the color of crystal. Balarama wears blue garments

and a garland of forest flowers. Baladeva's handsome hair is tied in a

graceful topknot. Splendid earrings adorn Balarama's ears. Sri Baladeva's

neck is splendidly decorated with garlands of flowers and strings of jewels.

Splendid bracelets

and armlets ornament Douji's graceful and very strong arms. Balarama's feet

are decorated with splendid jeweled anklets. Sri Baladeva is Krishna's

dearest friend. Baladeva is a great reservoir of the nectar mellows of many

kinds of transcendental pastimes."

 

"Lord Balarama's beauty is enhanced by the earrings touching His cheeks.

Balarama's face is decorated with tilaka made from musk, and Balarama's

broad chest is ornamented with gunja (small, red, black, and white berries

native to Vrndavana). Sri Baladeva's voice is very grave and His arms are

very long, touching his thighs." (Appreciating Sri Vrndavana Dhama, pg.110)

 

MATURITY

After defeating the king Jarasandha several times, Krishna decided to move

His family from the city of Mathura to an unconquerable fortress in the sea,

known as Dwarka. After moving His family, Krishna and Balarama pretended to

be afraid of Jarasandha and fled to mount Pravarsana. Jarasandha chased the

Lords up said mountain, but unable to find them he set the mountain on fire.

In order to avoid the fires, Lord Krishna and Balarama jumped some

eighty-eight miles to the ground.(Krishna Book Vol. I, pg 348)

********************

In another instance Lord Balarama was challenged to play chess with a

demoniac in-law of His, Rukmi. On the advice of the King of Kalinga, Rukmi

challenged Lord Balarama to play chess for various wagers. Knowing that Lord

Balarama, in this particular rasa, was not the most adept of chess players,

the two sought this opportunity to make fun of Lord Krishna and Balarama.

The first two games were played for 1,000 and 10,000 gold pieces

respectively and Lord Balarama was the loser in each game, but the third

game was for 100,000 gold pieces. Fortunately Lord

Balarama was the winner, but the sinful Rukmi attempted to cheat the Lord

and claim that he was the winner. This angered Balarama so He made another

wager of one hundred million coins. Again Lord Balarama was the victor and

again Rukmi attempted to cheat the Lord. This time there was a voice from

the sky that stated that according to the rules of chess, Lord Balaram was

the winner. Still Rukmi persisted that he was the winner and insulted the

Lord with artful words. At this time Lord Balarama became very angry and

summoned His mace, Sunanda, and smashed Rukmi on the head killing him with

one blow. Lord Balarama also took this opportunity to capture the fleeing

King of Kalinga who feared for his life. Balarama used His mace to smash the

teeth of the king because

he was always showing them while criticizing the Lord. Balarama also

captured all the princes who supported the king and beat them with His club,

breaking their hands and legs. (Krishna Book Vol. II,

pg.194)

********************

Once Lord Balarama was feeling very anxious to see his father and mother,

Nanda and Rohini, so He returned to Vrndavana for a visit. At this time He

also sought to pacify the gopis who were feeling great distress due to

separation from Lord Krishna. To alleviate their distress Lord Balarama

described the wonderful pastimes and glories of Krishna, and chanted

Krishna's transcendental names. Balarama became so absorbed in chanting that

his complexion assumed Krishna's blue color. (Appreciating Sri Vrndavana

Dhama, pg 112)

 

When Lord Balarama visited Vrndavana for two months, He would enjoy at night

with His cowherd girlfriends in a garden on the bank of the Yamuna. One

night, intoxicated with joy and Varuni (a liquid honey form of the daughter

of Varuna) Lord Balarama summoned Yamuna so that he could play in her

waters. Thinking that the Lord was drunk, she disregarded His command. This

angered Lord Balarama, and He began dragging the river with the tip of His

plow, Hala. Lord Balarama said, " O sinful one disrespecting Me, you do not

come when I call you but rather move by you own whim. Therefore, with the

tip if My plow I shall bring you here in a hundred streams."

 

At this time Yamuna realizing her mistake sought to please the Lord with

kind words and immediately presented her waters for His enjoyment. Thereupon

He released her and, like the king of elephants with his entourage of

she-elephants, entered the rivers water with His female companions. (Krishna

Book Vol. II, pg.220) It is noted that after pleasing Lord Krishna's gopis

with words, that Lord Balarama had the above mentioned relations with His

own separate gopis. Lord Balarama performed His own rasa-lila at Ram Ghat,

which is a long distance from the site of Krishna's rasa-lila. The gopis

attached to Krishna in the mood of madhurya rasa would be attached to Lord

Balarama in the mood of friendship only and vice-versa. While Lord Balarama

performed rasa-lila for two months, Krishna's gopis watched from a distance.

Lord Balarama respects Lord Krishna's gopis and is very careful to avoid

mixing with them. (Appreciating Sri Vrndavana Dhama, pg.71)

 

If while walking on Govardhana Hill, Krishna's elder brother Balarama, sees

a series of golden stones, He thinks: "The daughter of King Vrsabanu

(Radharani) must have just walked

before Me," and Balarama changes course to avoid an awkward situation. In

the same way if Radharani sees a series of crystal stones, She thinks,

"Balarama must have just walked before Me,"

and Radharani then changes course. (Appreciating Sri Vrndavana Dhama, pg113)

 

It was during one of these evenings of Lord Balarama's rasa-lila that He was

accosted by the terrible gorilla Dvivida. This Dvivida was as strong as

10,000 elephants and the friend of a demon killed by Lord Krishna . He

sought to cause harm to Lord Krishna and all those dear to Him. Dvivida

happened upon Lord Balarama during an evening of the Lords pleasure. He

insulted the Lord and His gopis, and sought to fight with Him. Balarama

being angered by the demon's activities engaged Dvivida in combat and after

leveling a mountain and a forest killed the demon with His bare hands.

(Krishna Book Vol. II, pg.229)

********************

Shortly thereafter Lord Balarama returned home to Dwarka. There was then an

incident where His nephew, Samba, was kidnapped. The family patriarch, King

Ugrasena, called for retaliation. Seeing the family preparing for a fight,

Balarama pacified them in order to avoid conflict between the Yadu and Kuru

dynasties. He then went to the Kaurava household where He expressed King

Ugrasena's demand for Samba's return. They became very angry, insulted

Balarama and the Yadu dynasty, and then returned to their city. Balarama

decided to punish them all. He took His plow, intending

to rid the earth of all the Kurus, and began dragging their city of

Hastinapura toward the Ganges. Seeing that their city was in eminent danger,

they quickly returned Samba. They then prayed, "O Lord, please forgive us,

who are truly ignorant of Your true identity". Feeling appeased Balarama

assured them He would not harm them, and returned home with Samba. (Krishna

Art, plate 151)

********************

There was once an incident where in order to marry Balarama and Krishna's

sister Arjuna, upon the advice of Krishna, disguised himself as a sage.

Balarama, believing Arjuna to be a sage presented him Subhadra to render him

service. Subhadra consequently fell in love with Arjuna and willingly left

with him. Balarama, thinking His sister was kidnapped, was going to punish

Arjuna. Krishna the greatest architect of flowery words pacified Balarama

and explained to Him what truly happened. (Krishna

Book Vol. III, pg. 122)

********************

Once Lord Balarama began to talk in his sleep as follows: "O lotus eyed

Krishna, Your childhood adventures are manifest simply according to Your

will. Therefore, please dispose of the stubborn pride of this Kaliya

serpent." By saying this Lord Balarama astonished the assembly of the Yadus

and made them laugh very loudly for some time. Then yawning so hard as to

make ripples on His abdomen, Lord Balarama, the bearer of the plow, returned

to His deep sleep. This is an instance of sleepiness in ecstatic love.

(Appreciatig Sri Vrndavana Dhama, 113)

********************

There came a time when it was inevitable that the two arguing factions of

the Kuru dynasty were going to war. Lord Balarama, not anxious to see the

outcome of this conflict decided to take pilgrimage to all the holy places.

At one such place there was a large sacrifice taking place. Many great sages

were present at this sacrifice and when Lord Balarama approached they rose

and offered Him all due respects. Thereafter they offered Balarama a proper

seat and worshipped Him as the Supreme Lord. All the sages present did this

except Romaharsana, who remained seated on the Vyasasana. Seeing his

impudence Balarama struck him with a single blade of kusa straw and killed

him. Upon seeing the Lord kill Romaharsana, the other sages in attendance

became greatly distressed. They humbly petitioned the Lord saying that they

had bestowed the great boon of long life upon Romaharsana and that the Lord

had caused their benediction to become false. The sages then requested the

Lord to please set an example and atone for the sin He had committed even

though He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead and therefore sinless.

 

Lord Balarama heard the words of the sages and was pleased with them. He

said that the benediction of the father, Romaharsana, should be passed on to

the son, and the Lord also agreed that He would do whatever the sages

suggested that he do in order to atone for the sin. The sages then asked

that He please slay the demon Balvala, who was a great source of anguish for

the sages. After He had performed this task , the sages said that Lord

Balarama should continue his pilgrimage for 12 months. Balarama accepted

what the sages said, and the next time the demon Balvala appeared Balarama

called for His club and His plow. Although the demon was flying here and

there in the air, the Lord swiftly snagged the demon with his plow and

pulling him down He smashed his head with His club. After accepting due

praise from the sages and taking their leave Lord Balarama continued on His

pilgrimage. (Krishna Book Vol. III, pgs. 59-63)

 

LORD BALARAMA'S DISAPPEARANCE

 

Due to a curse placed on the Yadu dynasty they were to be the cause of their

own destruction, thirty-six years after the end of the battle of Kuruksetra.

After Balarama took part in the drunken battle that caused the destruction

of the rest of the Yadus, and after He witnessed the disappearance of Lord

Krishna, Lord Balarama sat down in a meditative state and At the last stage,

He departed from this world by producing a great white snake from His mouth,

and thus He was carried by Sesanaga in the shape of a serpent (Srimad

Bhagavatam First anto pg.573)

 

MISC. PASTIMES

 

After the mace fight between Bhimasena and Duryodhana Balarama was prepared

to kill Bhima for what He believed was cheating, but he was stopped by Lord

Krishna. (Srimad Bhagavatam First Canto pg 573)

********************

Lord Balarama's wife Revati was born in a yuga previous to the yuga that

Bala was born in. Therefore when they met she was taller that He. Lord

Balarama took his plow and pushed Ravati down with the flat of it, thus

making her short. (Lecture given by H.H. Lokanatha Swami Srimad Bhagavatam

Tenth Canto 2nd chapter verses 13-15 Anaheim, Ca.8/17/89)

********************

In the pastime of Ratha-yatra the reason that Lord Balarama appears with

dilated eyes and shrunken limbs is because he is affected by the mood of

separation that Radha and Krishna are feeling for each other. (Lecture Given

by H.H. Gour Govinda Swami, Towaco,N.J. 6/23/94)

********************

Balarama rides in the chariot known as Taladhvaja. Tala means rhythm and

dhvaja means ensignia or distinguishing symbol. Rhythms are said to have

originated from Lord Shiva's cosmic dance. The rhythm created by Balarama's

huge moving chariot is said to produce an equally powerful and blissful

sound. The four horses that pull Balarama's chariot are 1.Tivra-strength,

2.Ghora-constancy, 3, Dirgha-timelessness, and 4.Srama-work. Balarama's

chariot in Orisa is 47 feet high and requires 763 pieces of wood to build.

Daruka, the one who takes care of all, is Balarama's charioteer. (Lila's of

Lord Jaganatha, pg64-77)

********************

Lord Balarama is the beauty incarnation of the Lord. (Srimad Bhagavatam

First Canto pg.168)

********************

The funereal ceremony of Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, was performed by

Balarama, as He was the maternal uncle. (Srimad Bhagavatam, First Canta pg

573

 

FINAL NOTES AND PRAYERS

If anyone wants to attain the Lotus feet of Sri-Sri Radha-Krishna, and be

able to taste and fully relish Their pastimes, one must first approach the

lotus feet of Lord Balarama or Lord Nityananda. This is a mandatory

prerequisite, for only by receiving Their mercy can this realization be

possible.

 

Because Lord Nityananda and Lord Balarama are non-different, the Gosvamis

confirm that by getting Lord Nityananda's mercy one becomes eligible to

receive the ecstatic prema of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna in Vraja. Lord

Balarama and Lord Nityananda do not accept any offenses whatsoever, and are

so merciful that by simply worshipping Lord Nityananda one is automatically

worshipping and pleasing Lord Balarama. It is described that Lord Nityananda

and Lord Balarama are the friends of the most fallen and the most wretched.

Just as it is not possible to enter Lord Caitanya's service without the

mercy of Lord Nityananda, it is impossible to enter Vraja rasa without the

mercy of Lord Balarama, who is non-different from Lord Nityananda.

(Appreciating Sri Vrndavana Dhama, pg114)

 

Sri Balarama is the servitor of Godhead who serves Lord Krishna in all

affairs of existence and knowledge. The transcendental abode exist by the

energy of Lord Balarama. Krishna's first expansion in a form for pastimes

is Lord Balarama. Balarama Himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna and

He does the work of creation in four other forms. In all forms Balarama

tastes the transcendental bliss of serving Krishna.

 

If we develop consciousness of this fact, then we are in actual Krishna

consciousness. We should always remember that Krishna is the only supreme

master and that everyone else is His servant, EKALE ISVARAH KRSNA, ARA SABA

BHRTYA. Either Lord Narayana, or Lord Shiva, Everyone is subordinate to

Krishna. Even Baladeva is subordinate to Krishna. In the transcendental

pastimes, Krishna is the chief hero, and Balarama provides additional

help.(Appreciating Sri Vrndavana Dhama , pg 111)

 

vahasi vapusi visade vasanam jaladabham

hala-hati-bhiti-milita-yamunabham

kesava dhrta-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare

 

O kesava! O Lord of the Universe! O Lord hari, who have assumed the form of

Lord Balarama, the wielder of the plow! All glories to You! On your

brilliant white body you wear garments the color of a fresh blue rain cloud.

These garments are colored like the beautiful dark hue of the River Yamuna,

who feels great fear due to the striking of Your plowshare. (Songs of the

Vaisnava Acaryas, pg.97)

 

Corrections And Notes

Sri Baladeva is the seventh child of Devaki, elder to Krishna and white in

complexion. The story behind this is as follows. The devas were instructed

by the Mahavishnu to take birth as Gopalas

(cowherds). MahaVisnu then took one white hair from His head and said that

it would go into Rohini's womb and change into Balarama and taking a black

hair said that it would go into Yasoda and become Krishna. The color white

is said to represent enlightenment.

 

When this story appeared in the original text, there were three inquiries

relevant to it, sent to me by Candra das, Hare Krishna Dasi, and Brahmananda

Das. I would like to thank them for their

attention in this matter and for helping me to give better, more acurate

information.

 

I was able, by the instruction of Brahmananda Das, to site Sri

Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-Lila Vol. 9 pg 75. There it clearly states that

"in this connection, one should see Laghu- bhagavatamrta, the chapter called

Krishnamrta, verses 156-164. Srila Rupa Gosvami has refuted this argument

about the hair incarnation, and his refutation is supported by Sri Baladeva

Vidyabhusana's commentaries. This matter is further discussed in the

Krishna-sandarba (29) and in the commentary known as Sarva-samvadini, by

Srila Jiva Gosvami." The quotation also says that these pastimes are not

factual but are related for the bewilderment of the asuras.

 

It was my understanding that these pastimes actually happened but were

misinterpreted by the asuras, I now stand corrected.