Balarama 1

#Balarama

Index per una classe
Birth
Description
Who is Balarama
Killing of Romaharsana
Marriage with Revati
Subhadra and Arjuna
Duryodhana and Bhima

Balarama – description

Powerful Lord Balarama 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 decorate His ears.

His neck is splendidly decorated with garlands of flowers and strings of jewels. His arms are splendidly decorated with bracelets and armlets.

His feet are decorated with splendid jeweled anklets. His father is Maharaja Vasudeva and His mother is Rohini-devi.

Nanda Maharaja is the friend of His father. Yasoda-devi is His mother, Sri Krsna His younger brother and Subhadra His sister.

He is sixteen years old and full of the luster of youth. He is Sri Krsna’s dearest friend. He is a great reservoir of the nectar mellows of many kinds of transcendental pastimes. (SSRKGD)

Who is 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 is service personified.

All that exists in Vraja is Baladeva Prabhu’s manifestation.

Krsna is sat-cit-ananda. Sat is sandhini (eternal existence, or maintenance), cit is knowledge, and ananda is hladini, pleasure.
Baladeva is the presiding Deity of the first kind of energy, sat or sandhini.
Krsna is the presiding Deity of cit or samvit, and
Srimati Radhika, the presiding Deity of ananda or hladini.

He is Vrindavana

Also, He is guru-tattva.
Sri Rama, or Balarama, is the protector of the devotees of the Lord.
Baladeva acts as the spiritual master of all devotees, and by His causeless mercy the fallen souls are delivered.

Sri Baladeva appeared as Sri Nityananda Prabhu during the advent of Lord Caitanya, and the great Lord Nityananda Prabhu exhibited His causeless mercy by delivering a pair of extremely fallen souls, namely Jagai and Madhai. (SB 1.14.28-29p)

Killing of Romaharsana

6) A pilgrimage. When the great Pandava-Kaurava battle started Krsna became the charioteer of Arjuna and Balarama went to the forest, Naimisa. He was not much interested in the battle.
At the forest of Naimisa he saw Suta telling Puranic stories to the several sages assembled there before him.
Suta did not rise up when he saw Balarama and the latter moved to anger very soon cut off thehead of Suta.
The sages assembled there decried the act of Balarama and lamented deeply over the incident. At this Balarama promised that he would give birth, from the dead body of Suta, to one who will be well versed in all the Vedas, ‘sastras and sciences. The sages then blessed Balarama.

Marriage.
Before the advent of Balarama and Krsna the island Dvaraka was known as Kusasthali. It was ruled over by a famous Rajarsi, Revata. This king was the son of King Anartta and grandson of emperor Saryati. Revata got a hundred sons, Kukudmin being the first and a daughter named Revati.
When the time for marriage of his daughter came the King was anxious to find out a fitting husband for her and he went to Brahmaloka to take the advice of Brahma. Revati also accompanied him. There stupefied he saw Vedas, Yajnas, mountains, rivers, oceans, Rtus, all in divine figures standing before Brahma, worshipping him. The sweet celestial songs gave them both untold happiness. He then told Brahma the purpose of his visit and Brahma meditating for some time told him that Balabhadrarama, son of Vasudeva, was the only one person suited for her. The king returned to Dvaraka and gave his daughter in marriage to Balarama. (Saptama Skandha, Devi Bhagavata).

Dhenukasura

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 worshiped 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.

Pralambhasura

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 “Dauji” (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 Vrndavana 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 Vrndavana Dhama, pg. 111)

Chess match

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)

Subhadra and Arjuna

Baladeva prabhu wanted his sister Subhadra to marry Duryodhana. Krsna, Vasudeva, Rohini, Devaki and all other members of the Yadu family wanted her to marry Arjuna, but none dared express their wish out of fear of Baladeva. No one could bend Baladeva to accept her marriage with Arjuna. Neither Vasudeva, nor Devaki, nor Rohini could do so. They all feared to act against His desire.

Krsna wondered, “What should be done? Whatever happens, My sister must not marry that villain Duryodhana, who is the enemy of the Pandavas, the Yadus, and My enemy as well.”

So Krsna arranged a trick. He told Arjuna, “Listen, dress up as a sannyasi and come to Dvaraka. Perform your bhajana-sadhana there. My sister, Subhadra, will come to get your darsana, and then you can flee Dvaraka together with her.”

Arjuna agreed. When he saw Subhadra, he was enchanted by her beauty and felt a strong desire to marry her. In the meantime, Duryodhana was eagerly waiting for her arrival, just as Sisupala previously awaited Rukmini in his palace.

Duryodhana thought, “If I marry Subhadra, all the Yadus will be on my side and not on the side of the Pandavas.” He was a clever politician, but Arjuna disrupted his plans by coming to Dvaraka dressed as a sannyasi. He did not talk to anyone, he lived a very austere life, and he ate and slept very little, as real sannyasis do.

Yasoda-maiya loves Krsna with all her heart, but when Putana came, Yasoda thought, “Oh, this lady is so full of affection. Why should she stand outside? I should let her in.” She could not discern that Putana’s loveliness was false. Similarly, Arjuna was able to bewilder all the residents of Dvaraka. Even Baladeva prabhu came to him to offer obeisances, and Arjuna gave him blessings. In the meanwhile Krsna instructed Subhadra, “This sannyasi has come to fulfill your innermost desire. Go and worship him.”

Subhadra dressed exquisitely, decorating herself with sixteen kinds of ornaments and arrived in her chariot to see Arjuna. Arjuna was informed about her arrival and was ready for her. He seated her on his own chariot and then personally entered upon it, giving the reins to control the horses into Subhadra’s hands. While she was driving the chariot, he stood with his bow and arrows in His hands, forbidding anyone to stop them.

“Arjuna stole My sister!” cried Baladeva when He heard the news. “Come, Yadus, we should take a big army with us and punish this offender.”

When they were about to set out for the chase, Krsna checked them by inquiring, “Where are You going?”

Baladeva told Krsna, “Do you not know? Arjuna has kidnapped Our sister!”

Krsna said, “Oh, brother, don’t You know that kidnapping is within our family tradition? Did I not kidnap Rukmini? Did Samba not kidnap Duryodhana’s daughter? So what is the wrong if Arjuna does the same? You actually helped Samba in this undertaking. Don’t You remember that You led our armies against Duryodhana? What’s more, do You really see Arjuna kidnapping Subhadra? Subhadra is the one driving the chariot. O Baladeva ji, You may kill Arjuna, but if You do so, Your sister will be very distressed.”

Baladeva replied, “Why didn’t You tell Me about all this before? If you all are in favor of her marriage with Arjuna, then I shall also agree.”

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