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Balarama

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Image:Krishna_Balarama.jpg thumb|200px|Balarama (left) with his brother [[Krishna Krishna-Balarama Mandir, Vrindavan, India]] In Hinduism, '''Balarama''' (phonetically Balarāma - his other names include '''Baladeva''', '''Balabhadra''' and '''Halayudha''') is the name of the elder brother of Sri Krishna. Most South Indian Hindu sects and some Vaishnavism Vaishnava sects based in eastern India regard '''Balarama''' as being the ninth avatar of Vishnu. In either tradition, Balarama is acknowledged as being a manifestation of Shesha, the divine serpent on whom Vishnu rests. The sacred Hindu scripture Bhagavata Purana explains how Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything emanates. In doing so, his first expansion is Balarama. From Balarama all other incarnations of God appear. Of the three transcendental elements (sat, cit and ananda), Balarama is in charge of sat(Sanskrit: ''eternity'' or ''truth''), cit(Sanskrit: ''knowledge'' or ''consciousness''). Hence he worshiped as the supreme teacher or ''adiguru''. (''Note: Ananda (Sanskrit:'' happiness ''or'' bliss''.'')

Appearance
Image:Krishnabalarama.JPG thumb|200px|[[Krishna and Balarama playing with sacred cow cows -- copyright 2005 Bhaktivedanta Book Trust BBTI]] Balarama was conceived as a son of Vasudeva and Devaki. Kamsa, brother of Devaki and an evil king, was intent upon killing all the progeny of Devaki, because of a prediction that Kamsa would die at the hands of the eighth son of Devaki. Kamsa threw his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva into jail, and proceeded to kill each of their children as soon as they were born. In due course of time, Devaki bacame pregnant for the seventh time. However, this child was not destined to meet the fate of the six previous infants. The unborn child was miraculously transferred from the womb of Devaki to the womb of Rohini, who had desired a child of her own. Thus Balarama's other name is also Sankarsana which describes the transfer of the child from the womb. The child was formally named Rama, but because of his great strength he was called Balarama (Strong Rama). Thus, Rohini actually gave birth to Balarama and raised him. Balarama spent his childhood as a cowherd boy with his brother Krishna and friends. He later married Revati, the daughter of King Raivata, ruler of the Anarta province.

Krishna's Brother
Gaudiya Vaishnavas believe that Sri Balarama is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is worshipped as equal in supremacy to the Supreme Godhead Krishna, yet wherever Krishna appears, Sri Baladeva appears as Krishna's brother, sometimes elder, sometimes younger. 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, Lakshmana. In Kali-yuga, Sri Balarama spreads the 'Sankirtan movement' of Sri Caitanya as Lord Nityananda. The only theological difference between Krishna and Balarama is that the bodily hue of Krishna is dark and that of Balarama is fair. Krishna is the Creator, and Balarama is His Creative potency, but they are both worshipped as the Supreme Primeval Lord.

Physical Characteristics
Balarama is almost always depicted as being fair skinned, especially in comparison to his brother, Krishna, who is shown as dark blue or black in hue. His weapons are the plough and the mace. Traditionally Balarama wears blue garments and a garland of forest flowers. His hair is tied in a topknot and He has earrings, bracelets and armlets. Balarama is described as being very physically strong, in fact 'bala' in Sanskrit refers to 'strength'. Sri Baladeva is famous as being Krishna's dearest friend.

Pastimes
Image:AgathoclesSquareCoin.jpg thumb|350px|Indian-standard silver drachm of the [[Greco-Bactrian king Agathocles of Bactria Agathocles (190 BCE 190-180 BCE)
'''Obv:''' Indian god Balarama-Samkarshana, wearing an ornate headress, earrings, sword in sheath, holding a mace in his right hand and a plow-symbol in the left. Greek legend: BASILEOS AGATOKLEOUS "Of King Agathocles".
'''Rev:''' Indian god Vasudeva-Krishna, with ornate headdress, earrings, sword in sheath, holding sankha (pear-shaped vase) and chakra (wheel). Brahmi legend: RAJANE AGATHUKLAYASA "King Agathocles".]] Balarama famously taught both Duryodhana of the Kauravas and Bhima of the Pandavas the art of fighting with a mace. When war broke between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, Balarama was equally affectionate to both parties and so decided to be neutral. Eventually when Bhima (of greater strength) defeated Duryodhana (of greater skill) by dealing a blow below the navel with his mace, Balarama threatened to kill Bhima. This was only prevented when Krishna reminded Balarama of Bhima's vow to kill Duryodhana by crushing the very thigh he exposed to his wife Draupadi. After Balarama's birth 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 Yashoda 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)

Disappearance
In the Bhagavata Purana it is described that after Balarama took part in the battle that caused the destruction of the rest of the Yadu dynasty, and after He witnessed the disappearance of Lord Krishna, He then sat down in a meditative state and departed from this world by producing a great white snake from His mouth, and thus He was carried by Sesha in the form of a serpent.

Quotations regarding Sri Balarama
''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.'' A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ''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.'' From Appreciating Sri Vrindavana Dhama, pg. 111

External links

- Vedic Encyclopedia
- Krishna & Balarama Deity Gallery
- Krishna-Balarama Temple
- 1000 names of Lord Balarama {{VishnuAvatars}} {{HinduMythology}} Category:Forms of Vishnu Category:Hindu gods Category:Characters in Mahabharata pl:Balarama sv:Balarama

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