TOMORROW IS BALARAMA PURNIMA
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10th 2014
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Vaishnavas, celebrate Balarama Purnima. This is a
festival that commemorates the appearance day of Lord Balaram, the elder
brother of Lord Sri Krishna. It is celebrated on the full moon day of
Shravan month, Shravan Poornima. According to Gregorian calendar, the
day generally falls in the months of August or September. This festival
is celebrated exactly eight days before Janamastami, the appearance day
of Lord Krishna. Balarama Purnima this year is on August
10th.
Lord Krishna and Balarama are not two different Personalities of Godhead. God is one without a second, but He expands Himself in many forms without their being separate from one another. They are all plenary expansions. The immediate expansion of Lord Krishna is Balarama. Lord Balarama is as good as Krishna Himself, the only difference being that the bodily hue of Krishna is dark and that of Balarama is fair.
Vaishnavas, celebrate Balarama Purnima. This is a
festival that commemorates the appearance day of Lord Balaram, the elder
brother of Lord Sri Krishna. It is celebrated on the full moon day of
Shravan month, Shravan Poornima. According to Gregorian calendar, the
day generally falls in the months of August or September. This festival
is celebrated exactly eight days before Janamastami, the appearance day
of Lord Krishna. Balarama Purnima this year is on August
10th. Lord Krishna and Balarama are not two different Personalities of Godhead. God is one without a second, but He expands Himself in many forms without their being separate from one another. They are all plenary expansions. The immediate expansion of Lord Krishna is Balarama. Lord Balarama is as good as Krishna Himself, the only difference being that the bodily hue of Krishna is dark and that of Balarama is fair.
Lord
Balarama is the source of all spiritual power (bala) which helps one
attain the highest bliss of life (ramana) and hence the name Balarama.
He is the protector of the devotees of the Lord. Without His mercy, one
cannot approach the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Vaishnavas
celebrate Balarama Purnima with great joy and happiness. On this day,
all temples dedicated to Lord Krishna are decorated with leaves and
flowers. The deities of Krishna and Balarama are given holy bath with
panchamrita. Devotees cook special dishes on this day and share them
with great happiness. Balarama Purnima is celebrated with utmost festivity in Vrindavan, Mathura, Puri and in all Krishna mandirs or Iskcon Temples around the world. Iskcon Bangalore celebrates this festival every year with grand Abhisheka for Their Lordships Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, followed by a grand offering of 56 items (Chappan-Bhoga).
Tomorrow, Sunday
August 10, 2014, Vaishnavas all around the world celebrate the
auspicious occasion of Sri Balarama's Appearance day. Lord Balarama is
the first personal expansion of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. All other incarnations expand from Him. In Lord Krishna’s
pastimes, He plays as Krishna’s older brother. Together Krishna and
Balarama enact many pastimes as cowherd boys in the land of Vrindavan.
He was the seventh child of Devaki and Vasudev. The demon king Kamsa
confined the couple to a prison and killed six of their children. The
seventh child (Balarama) was
transferred from Devaki’s womb to Rohini’s womb. Balarama is known by
several names, such as Sankarshana, Baladeva, Balabhadra and
Haldhari. Lord
Balarama symbolizes strength in devotion. He is the bestower of
physical strength and a healthy life for His devotees. Balarama-Purnima
also marks the end of Jhulana-yatra and the first month of chaturmasya.
On Balarama Purnima, devotees dance and sing the Holy names of Krishna
and Balarama and fast until noon. Discourses are given on Balarama’s
appearance and activities. In
the Vedic literature, Sri Balarama is the source of all the Vishnu
incarnations and is the original spiritual teacher; therefore in this
new occasion of celebrating Balarama Purnima, we ask Him to help us to
strength our weak devotion and increase our determination to keep our
humble services to our Gurudeva. (Editor's note).
WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?
Sri
Baladeva Prabhu, the original Narayana, is the vaibhava-prakasa of
Govinda.He is the original cause of all emanations. The Propagating
Prime Cause of individuality or the All-pervading Function-Holder of the
Personal Godhead is also Baladeva - He is svayam-prakasa. Sri
Baladeva’s color is white, different from Krsna. He carries a buffalo
horn, which produces more sound than the flute of Krsna. Therefore He is
known as the Horn-holder (Singadhrka). Sri Baladeva possesses qualities
like Krsna. He is the fountainhead or prime source of the
all-embracing, all-pervading and all-extending energy. [...] Sri
Balarama, who is the deity of the sandhini potency, serves Krsna in His
five Forms of Maha-Sankarsana, Karanodakasayi, Garbhodakasayi,
Ksirodakasayi, and Sesa - who is known as Ananta. In this way, Balarama
tastes the divine nectar of the service of Krishna accepting all these
Forms.Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Mahārāja :
“Dasavatara - The Ten Manifestations of God”
Chapter 6: “Sri Baladeva Avatara”
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