Lord Balarama's Appearance - Jhulana Yatra ends

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Jhulana Yatra ends

 

Lord Balarama -- Appearance

 

(Fast till noon)

 

Second month of Caturmasya begins [PURNIMA SYSTEM]

 

 

Lord Balarama

Who is Lord Balarama?

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

 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all

incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one and the

same identity. They differ only in form. Balarama is the first bodily

expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna's transcendental

pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world and is the adi-

guru, the original spiritual master.

 

He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He Himself helps in the

pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other

forms called the catur-vyuha (four armed) forms known as Vasudeva,

Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Anirudha. He executes the orders of Lord Krishna

in the work of creation, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Sri Krishna

in various ways. In all the forms He tastes the transcendental bliss of

serving Krishna. No one can approach Krishna without first getting the

mercy of Baladeva.

 

Descent of Balarama

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

Whenever Krishna appears in the material world, He is accompanied by His

associates and paraphernalia. Five thousand years ago when Krishna

descended into the material world, He was first preceded by Baladeva. Only

after Baladeva give His mercy did Krishna descend, such is the intimate

relationship between Krishna and Baladeva.

 

When Baladeva appeared as the seventh child in the womb of Devaki, she

could understand that this was a divine child and this made her all the

more concerned about His safety. Even Kamsa could sense His potency and he

became fearful, thinking he may have been tricked by the prophecy that he

will be slain only by the eight child of Devaki. At this time Krishna

instructed Yogamaya, His internal potency, to transfer the unborn child

from the womb of Devaki to that of Rohini, one of the other wives of

Vasudeva, who was hiding from Kamsa in the house of Nanda Maharaja in

Gokul.

 

In this way Balarama was born in Gokul under the protection of Nanda

Maharaja. Garga Muni the venerable kulguru (family priest) of the Yadu

dynasty revealed to Rohini that the child she was carrying was indeed that

of her husband Vasudeva. At the time of the name-giving ceremony he named

the child Rama, one who gives all pleasures. Referring to the immense

strength of the child, Garga Muni predicted that He will also be known as

Balarama (bala meaning strength). Since He was forcibly attracted from the

womb of Devaki to that of Rohini, He was also be called Sankarshana. As the

son of Rohini He was known as Rohini-nandan and as the elder brother of

Krishna He was also called Douji.

 

The form of Lord Balarama

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

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

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

a garland of forest flowers. His handsome hair is tied in a graceful

topknot. Splendid earrings adorn His ears and His neck is splendidly

decorated with garlands of flowers and strings of jewels. Splendid armlets

and bracelets ornament Douji's graceful and very strong arms and His feet

are decorated with splendid jeweled anklets.

 

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

face is decorated with tilaka made from musk, and His broad chest is

ornamented with a garland of gunja. Balarama’s voice is very grave and His

arms are very long, touching His thighs

 

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, He never leaves Krishna alone in the forest even for a moment.

Balarama is Sri Krishna's dearest friend and is a great reservoir of the

nectar mellows of many kinds of transcendental pastimes.

 

Specific Pastimes of Lord Balarama

Balarama slays Dhenukasura

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

Dhenukasura was a powerful demon who had assumed the form of an ass. With

his demon friends he was occupying Talavana, one of the twelve forests of

Vrindavana. Out of fear of these demons no one could approach Talavana and

enjoy the numerous flowers and fruits in the forest. Balarama, induced by

His cowherd friends, entered the forest desiring to kill the demons. He

began shaking the fruit trees, making a big noise. Dhenuka, furious at the

intrusion, attacked Balarama with his rear legs, but Balarama easily picked

him up by his legs and whirled him around until he died. As the other demon

friends of Dhenuka rushed to attack, Krishna and Balarama picked them up

and threw them on trees, killing them. Soon the forest was free of all

demons, and it appeared that the bent trees were being directed by Balarama

to pay obeisances to Krishna.

 

Balarama kills Pralambasura

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

Once when Krishna and Balarama were playing with the cowherd boys, a demon

named Pralamba entered their midst, disguised as a cowherd boy.

Understanding the invincible potency of Krishna, he instead decided to

abduct Balarama. At the end of the game, as the losing party he was

supposed to carry Balarama on his shoulders. Carrying the Lord on his

shoulders he ran swiftly, but Balarama realizing the true identity of demon

began to make himself heavier and heavier. Unable to bear the weight, the

demon assumed his original form which was like a huge dark effulgent cloud,

decorated with golden ornaments. Balarama then bought His fist down the

head of the demon splitting it into two and causing him to give up his

life.

 

Balarama glorified by Krishna

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

As the elder brother of Krishna, Balarama was the object of His love and

respect. Once when walking in the forest of Vrindavana, Krishna observed

the trees bending down as if paying obeisances. He glorified the lotus feet

of Balarama as being the object of devotion even for the demigods. He said

that the trees, which were impersonalists in previous life times,

witnessing the personal form of Balarama were now praying for His devotion.

At other times when Balarama would get tired by playing, He would lie down

the lap of one of the cowherd boys and Krishna would personally massage His

feet, fan Him and give Him service. Such was the sweet reciprocation of

love between Krishna and Balarama.

 

Yamuna devi chastised

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

Once Lord Balarama, Who was at the time living in Dwarka, came back to stay

in Vrindavana for two months. At this time He enjoyed pastimes with His

gopi friends (who were different from the gopis of Krishna). Enjoying such

pastimes on the bank of Yamuna at Rama-ghata, the Lord summoned Yamuna so

that He could sport in the waters. When Yamuna devi did not respond. Lord

Balarama took up His favorite weapon, His plow, and began to drag Yamuna in

a hundred streams. Understanding the position of Balarama, Yamuna devi

personally appeared and offered her obeisances to the Lord with many

prayers in His glorification. Thus appeased the Lord entered and bathed in

the waters of the river.

 

Kauravas chastised

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

Samba, the darling son of Jambavati and Krishna, kidnapped Laksmana the

daughter of Duryodhana from the assembly were she was supposed to choose

her husband. The furious Kauravas after a prolonged fight, finally arrested

Samba by sending in six of their greatest warriors. When the Yadavas heard

of this they prepared for battle but Lord Balarama pacified them,

preferring to find a peaceful solution. However when He requested the

Kauravas to return Samba and Laksmana, the Kauravas responded by insulting

Him and the Yadava dynasty. Understanding them to be ignorant in their

false prestige, Balarama took His plow and began to drag Hastinapura into

the Ganges. The terrified Kauravas now surrendered to the lotus feet of

Balarama, begging for His mercy. They immediately returned Samba and

Laksmana and had them married ceremoniously with many opulent gifts.

 

Balarama marries Revati

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

In Satya yuga there was a King named Raivata whose daughter Revati was

excellent in all respects. Unable to find a match suitable for her, the

king took her to the court of Brahma for his advise. After waiting for some

time when the king met with Brahma, he was shocked to learn that in the

short time he spent in the Brahmaloka, millions of years had already passed

on Earth and at the time Dvapara yuga was concluding. However Lord Brahma

informed King Raivata that present at this time was Lord Balarama Who was

more than qualified to be the husband of Revati.

 

King Raivata returned and approached Balarama to accept Revati as His wife.

However Revati belonged to an earlier yuga when people were much larger

physically. So Lord Balarama placed His plow on her head until she shrunk

to an appropriate size and accepted her as His wife.

 

Balarama and Mahabharata

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

In general Balarama was equally affectionate to both the Pandavas and the

Kauravas. He accepted both Duryodhana and Bhima as His disciples in the art

of mace-war. As a teacher He appreciated the superior technique of

Duryodhana as opposed to the raw strength of Bhima. At the time of

Mahabharata, He refused to take sides and instead went on an extended

pilgrimage to the holy places. In the battle between Bhima and Duryodhana,

He became angry at Bhima for killing Duryodhana by trickery, but was

appeased by Sri Krishna.

 

Killing of Romaharshana

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

Towards the end of Dvapara yuga thousands of sages assembled on the banks

of Naimyasharana to perform a thousand year yajna in an effort to reverse

the onset of Kali yuga. They appointed as their leader Romaharshana, one of

the main disciple of Vyasadeva, who was also present when Sukadeva Goswami

narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to King Parikshit.

 

When Lord Balarama entered the assembly, understanding Him to be the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, all present rose to offer Him respect.

However Romaharshana, proud at occupying the position of the leader did not

get up. Lord Balarama could understand that even though Romaharshana was a

an expert Vedantist, he had not yet realized these teachings. Considering

him unqualified to lead the ceremony, Balarama touched him with a blade of

grass causing him to die. He then instituted Suta, the son of Romaharshana

as the leader of the assembly and continued with His pilgrimage.

 

Mercy of Lord Balarama

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

Lord Balarama exemplifies the service attitude to Krishna. His only mission

is to please Krishna by rendering service to Him, whether it is in the

creation of the material worlds, maintaining the spiritual world or as His

personal paraphernalia.

 

Lord Balarama is the eternal companion of Sri Krishna. He came as Lakshmana

with Rama and later as Nityananda Prabhu with Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is

the original spiritual master, and any one desiring to make spiritual

progress must first get the mercy of Lord Balarama.

 

All glories to Lord Balarama !!

Reference : Srimad Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto.

===============================================================

 

 

SRI JHULAN YATRA

One of the most popular events in the holy town of Vrindavan, India - where

Lord Krishna appeared 5,000 years ago - is the celebration of Jhulan Yatra,

the Radha-Krishna swing festival. In Vrindavan among the local villagers

and inhabitants this festival lasts for 13 days. In Vrindavan this is one

of the biggest festivals of the year and Vrindavana is very crowded at this

time, literally hundreds of thousands of people from surrounding towns and

villages visit Vrindavan over this period in the auspicious sacred month of

Shravana (July-Aug). Opulence or simplicity, everything is used in

Vrindavan for the service of the Divine couple, so during this time you may

see swings made simply, out of love, but often the swings are made of gold

or silver.

In Sri Vrindavan for five days, in many of the 5000 temples there, the

small Utsav-vighraha functional Deities (Vijay-utsav bera) are taken from

the altar and placed on an elaborately decorated swing in the temple room.

After receiving the traditional arati worship, the Deities are pushed on

Their swing. Members of the congregation are invited to participate. Each

person offers flower petals and personal prayers, and then pushes the swing

several times as the other members chant Hare Krishna, Jaya Radhe Jaya

Krishna Jaya Vrindavan, or Jaya Radhe, Jaya Jaya Madhava dayite in kirtan.

The atmosphere of this festival is especially sweet as everyone has the

chance to intimately serve Radha and Krishna.

   The same festival is observed in other parts of India too in this

sacred month of Shravana. For example in Jagannath Puri, for the pleasure

of Lord Jagannath's utsav vighraha (Madan-mohan ji, this festival is

celebrated from Shravana Shukla Dashami (10th Tithi/phase of the Moon of

the light fortnight) until Pratipada (1st tithi of the dark fortnight), a

period of seven days. Sri Madanmohan, Lord Jagannath's representative deity

(vijay utsav), as well as Laxmi and Vishwadhatri are placed on a decorative

wooden swing on Muktimandap (Jhulanmandap). There, worshippers have a

chance to swing the Lord, thus entering into His pastimes. On the day of

the full moon (Gamha Purnima or Jhulan Purnima), Lord Balabhadra's

appearance day is celebrated.

In Vrindavan it starts on the Tritya (third day) of the bright fortnight of

Shravana and lasts until the full moon night of the month. During this

festival the Radha-Krishna Deities in the temples are swung on a swing.

Some of the main temples that this festival is celebrated at are the Banke

Bihari Temple and the Radha-Raman Temple in Vrindavana, the Dwarkadish

temple in Mathura, and the Larily Lal Temple in Varsana.

In this month of Shravana (which is during the rainy season), the clouds in

the sky begin to make a thundering sound and extremely fine mist-like rain

drizzles everywhere. The atmosphere is very beautiful and pleasant after

the heat of the summer months, for at that time all the forests of Sri

Vrndavana Dham begin to bloom. Many types of flowers on both sides of the

Yamuna can be seen, such as beli, chameli, jui, and madhavi all begin to

appear in bloom. The entire place becomes alive again and bumblebees look

here and there chanting, " Radhe Radhe " and the cuckoos also call

out, “Radhe Radhe.”

The peacocks and peahens all call out “Keka keka.” The sound Ke

means: “Which male person has the ability to do a very wonderful thing?

Srimati Radhika’s maan (Her sulky mood of transcendental loving jealous

anger), as well as Her shyness and patience, are like a very tall and

immovable mountain. However, which male person, ‘Ke,’ can crush that

mountain into powder so that there is nothing left? This person is none

other than Sri Krsna.” Ka means: “Which female person can do a very

wonderful thing? There is a powerful, mad elephant named Sri Krsna-chandra

whom no one can control. One person, however, by the goad of Her maan, can

catch that elephant, bring Him under Her control, and then bind Him in the

shackle of Her love. Who is that? It is Srimati Radharani.” In this way the

peacocks and peahens in their mystic calls glorify Srimati Radharani and

Lord Sri Krsna.

Take advantage of this rare opportunity of this human form of life.  There are 8,400,000 different species of life through which we are rotating lifetime after lifetime. So getting a human body is not an every day affair. This most auspicious opportunity only comes after many millions of lifetimes in the lower species. Anyone who does not utilize their human life for self-realization is making the greatest mistake. When this happens it is the greatest tragedy, and unfortunately today this neglect of the human form has become the standard behavior for the entire human society. What can be done? We must first ourselves become solidly situated in Krishna consciousness and then do the highest welfare activity of spreading to everyone else all over the world.

Chant:Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare