श्री बलराम पूर्णिमा - Appearance of Lord Balaraama

[ISKCON-Ahmedabad]

|| हरे कृष्ण ||
|| Hare Kṛṣṇa ||

All Glories to Śrī Guru & Gaurānga!
All Glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Nitāi Gaura Premānande, HARI HARI BOLO!

पतितानाम पावनेभ्यो वैष्णवेभ्यो नमो नम:|
Patitānām Pāvanebhyo Vaiśṇavebhyo Namo Namaḥ!

Respected devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisance - dandavat praṇāma,

Shri Balaraama Purnima
श्री बलराम पूर्णिमा - શ્રી બલરામ પૂર્ણિમા
on Saturday,13th August 2011
Fasting till noon. Ekaadashi (faraali) prasaad recommended for rest of the day.

We will celebrate Shri Balaraama purnima by offering Abhishek to Lord Balaraama at 11.30 am in the main temple hall on 13th August 2011. Simultaneously Sri Brahma Samhita will be recited with Kirtan and then Aarati and finally Mahaa-Prasaad will also be offered to all at 1.00 pm. Everyone is heartily invited.

 

Śrī Balabhadra-stotra-kavacha શ્રી બલભદ્ર સ્તોત્ર કવચ श्री बलभद्र स्तोत्र कवच
The Prayer and Armor of Lord Balarāma

Text 1
duryodhana uvāca
gopībhyāṁ kavacaṁ dattaṁ
    gargācāryena dhīmatā
sarva-rakṣā-karaṁ divyaṁ
    dehi mahyaṁ mahā-mune

Duryodhana said: O great sage, please give me the transcendental
Balarāma-kavaca, which wise Garga Muni gave to the gopīs, and which gives
all protection.

Text 2
śrī-prāḍvipāka uvāca
snātvā jale kṣauma-dharaḥ kuśāsanaḥ
    pavitra-pāṇiḥ kṛta-mantra-marjanaḥ
smṛtvātha natvā balam acyutāgrajaṁ
    sandhārayed dharma-samāhito bhavet

Śrī Prāḍvipāka Muni said: After bathing and dressing in clean cotton
garments, a person should sit on a kuśa-grass mat, purify his hands with
mantras, bow down, and with fixed intelligence meditate on Lord Kṛṣṇa's
elder brother, Lord Balarāma.

Text 3
goloka-dhāmādhipatiḥ pareśvaraḥ
    pareṣu māṁ pātu pavitra-kīrtanaḥbhū-maṇḍalaṁ sarṣapavad vilakṣyate
    yan-mūrdhni māṁ pātu sa bhūmi-maṇḍale

May Lord Balarāma, who is the master of Goloka, who is the supreme
controller of all controllers, and whose fame is spotless, protect me. May
Lord Balarāma, who on His head holds the earth as if it were a single
mustard seed, protect me in this world.

Text 4
senāsu māṁ rakṣatu sīra-pāṇir
    yuddhe sadā rakṣatu māṁ halī ca
durgeṣu cāvyān musalī sadā māṁ
    vaneṣu saṅkarṣaṇa ādi-devaḥ

May Lord Balarāma protect me when I am surrounded by many armies. May Lord
Balarāma, who holds a plow, always protect me in battle. May Lord Balarāma,
who holds a club, always protect me in many fortresses. May Lord Balarāma,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect me in the forest.

Text 5
kalindajā-vega-haro jaleṣu
    nīlāmbaro rakṣatu māṁ sadāgnau
vāyau ca rāmo 'vatu khe balaś ca
    mahārṇave 'nanta-vapuḥ sadā mām

May Lord Balarāma, who wears blue garments and who stopped the Yamunā,
always protect me in fire. May Lord Balarāma protect me in the wind. May
Lord Balarāma protect me in the sky. May Lord Balarāma, who is Lord Ananta
Himself, always protect me in the great ocean.

Text 6
śrī-vāsudevo 'vatu parvateṣu
    sahasra-śīrṣā ca mahā-vivāde
rogeṣu māṁ rakṣatu rauhiṇeyo
    māṁ kāma-pālo 'vatu va vipatsu

May Lord Balarāma, who is Vasudeva's son, protect me on mountains. May Lord
Balarāma, who has a thousand heads, protect me in great disputes. May Lord
Balarāma, who is Rohiṇī's son, protect me from diseases. May Lord Balarāma,
who fulfills desires, protect me from catastrophes.

Text 7
kāmāt sadā rakṣatu dhenukāriḥ
    krodhāt sadā māṁ dvivida-prahārī
lobhāt sadā rakṣatu balvalārir
    mohāt sadā māṁ kila māgadhāriḥ

May Lord Balarāma, who is the enemy of Dhenukāsura, always protect me from
lust. May Lord Balarāma, who killed Dvivida, always protect me from anger.
May Lord Balarāma, who is the enemy of Balvala, always protect me from
greed. May Lord Balarāma, who is the enemy of Jarāsandha, always protect me
from illusion.

Text 8
prātaḥ sadā rakṣatu vṛṣṇi-dhuryaḥ
    prāhne sadā māṁ mathurā-purendraḥ
madhyandine gopa-sakhaḥ prapātu
    svarāt parāhne 'vatu māṁ sadaiva

May Lord Balarāma, who is the best of the Vṛṣṇis, always protect me at
sunrise. May Lord Balarāma, who is the king of Mathura' City, always protect
me in the morning. May Lord Balarāma, who is the friend of the gopas, always
protect me at midday. May Lord Balarāma, who is supremely independent,
always protect me in the afternoon.

Text 9
sāyaṁ phaṇīndro 'vatu māṁ sadaiva
    parāt paro rakṣatu māṁ pradoṣe
pūrṇe niśīthe ca duranta-vīryaḥ
    pratyūṣa-kāle 'vatu māṁ sadaiva

May Lord Balarāma, who is the king of serpents, always protect me at sunset.
May Lord Balarāma, who is greater than the greatest, always protect me in
the evening. May Lord Balarāma, whose power is invicible, always protect me
in the middle of the night. May Lord Balarāma always protect me at every
sunrise.

Text 10
vidikṣu māṁ rakṣatu revatī-patir
    dīkṣu pralambārir adho yadūdvahaḥ
ūrdhvaṁ sadā māṁ balabhadra ārāt
    tathā samantād baladeva eva hi

May Lord Balarāma, who is the master of Revatī, protect me from every
direction. May Lord Balarāma, who is the enemy of Pralamba, protect me from
every direction. May Lord Balarāma, who is the best of the Yādavas, protect
me from below. May Lord Balarāma always protect me from above. May Lord
Balarāma protect me from near and far. May Lord Balarāma protect me
everywhere.

Text 11
antaḥ sadāvyāt puruṣottamo bahir
    nāgendra-līlo 'vatu māṁ mahā-balaḥ
sadāntarātmā ca vasan hariḥ svayaṁ
    prapātu pūrṇaḥ parameśvaro mahān
  

May Lord Balarāma, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, always protect
me from within. May powerful Lord Balarāma, who enjoys pastimes as the king
of serpents, protect me from without. May Lord Balarāma, who is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul residing in everyone's heart, always
protect me.

Text 12
devāsurāṇāṁ bhaya-nāśanaṁ ca
    hutāśanaṁ pāpa-cayendhanānām
vināśanaṁ vighna-ghatasya viddhi
    siddhāsanaṁ varma-varaṁ balasya

Please know that this kavaca of Lord Balarāma is the best of armors. It
destroys the fears of the demigods and demons. It is a blazing fire that
burns up the fuel of a host of sins. It is the death of a host of obstacles.
It is the abode of spiritual perfection.


Descent of Lord 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.

More about Lord Balaraama
************************

Krishna Lila - Balaraama
Gaura lila - Nityananda
Father: Vasudeva;
Mother: Rohini devi;
Brother: (younger) Sri Krsna;
Sister: Subhadra;
Wife: Srimati Varuni devi;
Wife: Srimati Revati devi;
Other names: Balabhadra, Haladhara, Daau

Balaram, is sixteen years old and full of the luster of youth;
has a fair complexion the color of crystal;
wears blue garments and a garland of forest flowers;

Lord Balaram is the first personal expansion of Lord Krsna, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. All other incarnations expand from Him.

In Krsna's pastimes, He plays Krsna's elder brother. Together Krsna and
Balarama enact many pastimes as cowherd boys in the land of Vrndavana. Lord
Balarama carries a plough and club and is known for His great strength.

Lord Baladeva in Krsnaloka is Nityananda Prabhu. Therefore Nityananda Prabhu
is the original Sankarsana, and Maha-sankarsana and His expansions as the
purusas in the universes are plenary expansions of Nityananda Prabhu.

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.

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)

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)

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)

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)

Lord Balarama is the beauty incarnation of the Lord. (Srimad Bhagavatam
First Canto pg.168)

With sincere prayers for your well-being and dandavat praṇāma,
Your humble servants at,

श्री राधागोविंदजी धाम - इस्कॉन अहमदाबाद
Śrī RādhāGovindajī Dhāma
ISKCON - Ahmedābād - INDIĀ

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Always Chant Mahaa-Mantra...

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण, कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे |
हरे राम हरे राम, राम राम हरे हरे ||
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare |
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare ||

...and be Happy