Balarama Jayanti

Balarama – The Icon of Brotherhood (Eve of Balarama Jayanti)

This article talks about Balarama, one of the Dasa Avatharams of Lord Vishnu. On the eve of “Balarama Jayanti,” a humble attempt is made to stress the importance of Lord Balarama avatar. Out of all the Dasavatharams of Lord Vishnu, normally he appears as one and only ‘murthy’ to perform “Dusta Sikshana and Sista Rakshana” (Punish the Bad and Save the Good).

In every “Yuga” Lord Vishnu saves Mother Earth and Dharma as a solitary representative, but with an exception in ‘Dwapara Yuga’. Lord Vishnu gave his presence to us in the form of Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama (as per post-Vedic literature). The Vedic literature also envisages that the Balarama is a reincarnation of ‘Adhi Sesha’.

Balarama Jayanti on 05.09.2024

Traits of Balarama

A Protective Brother

Balarama is a caring brother. Since childhood, the big brother never left his younger brother, who is prone to attacks by demons sent by Kamsa. For example, Dhenuka the ‘asura’ (demon) sent by Kamsa was killed by Balarama, when he attempted to kill Sri Krishna.

If we dwell upon Srimad Bhagavatham, Sri Krishna is always fond of cows and used to go to forests. So, Balarama became a cow herd, though he is the son of a leader and king to protect his younger brother during his visits to forests. Even during Sri Krishna’s education with sage Sandipani at Ujjain, he joined the same ‘Ashram’ (School) to take care of his younger brother and his education.

Balarama Jayanti

Significance of Agriculture

Balarama is always known for his discipline and dignity. He holds a plough (many projected it as his weapon) that represents him as a promoter of agriculture. There is literature available that shows he drew the waterway or channel from the Yamuna River to the agricultural lands of Brindavan.

It is believed that Sri Balarama brought the river Ganges / Ganga closer to Hasthinapur with his plough. Though the people of ancient times to date believed that Cows were sacred and cattle were the source of wealth, they insisted that agriculture was as important as cow herding.

Icon of Dharma

Sri Balarama was known for Dharma and discipline. When the battle between Kauravas and Pandavas was declared, he took a neutral position. Because if he joins Duryodhana or Bhima, like the teacher Dhrona, that will stand in the world as a wrong example of a teacher.

Balarama is an avatar of Adhisesha with Krishna

Respect for Women

During Sri Krishna’s decision to perform the marriage of sister Subhadra with Arjuna, Balarama was unhappy. But when he got the fact that it was not Sri Krishna’s decision but Subadra’s long cherished wish, he obliged and respected his sister’s wish.

Importance to Knowledge and Analytical Skills

When Sri Krishna decided to move his capital from Mathura to Dwaraka for better protection to civilians, he accepted such a major strategic decision of a brother without ego. This should be the standing example to elder brothers of any yuga to accept the intelligence, and knowledge of younger ones.

Final Word

Lord Vishnu took the avatar of Krishna to punish the evil. But Adisesha took the avatar as Balarama to protect Krishna. Balarama has substantial strength and the ability to train and mentor warriors. He is the spiritual master, and anyone desiring to make ‘spiritual progress’ must first get the blessings of Lord Balarama.

Balarama – An avatar of Adhisesha

Balarama is an avatar of Adhisesha the god of prosperity. Balarama’s significance in Indian culture has ancient roots.

Balarama – God of Agriculture and Strength

Balarama is a Hindu god and the elder brother of Lord Krishna. He is also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra, Haladhara and Halayudha. The first two epithets refer to his strength, the last two associate him with ‘Hala’ (plough) from his strong associations with farming and farmers, as the deity who used farm equipment as weapons when needed.

Balarama is an ancient deity, a prominent one in the epics era of Indian history. His iconography appears with Naga (many-headed serpent), a plough and other farm artefacts such as a watering pot, possibly indicating his origins in an agricultural culture. Balarama’s legend appears in many Parva (books) of the Mahabharata.

Balarama is an avatar of Adhisesha with Krishna

Kamsa was the brother of Devaki and was informed that we would be killed by his 8th Nephew. Hearing which Kamsa, in no time, had Devaki and her husband Vasudeva arrested. Thus, he killed all their children which followed till the birth of the other six sons.

Now, The Sesha Nag started to inhabit the womb of Devaki Maa and Kamsa saw the divinity on the face of Devaki and suddenly understood that God was residing inside her womb. This was the seventh son.

Thus, Lord Vishnu called Yogmaya and told her about the change in his plans. Then, Yogmaya took Sesha Nag to the womb of Rohini, who was another wife of Vasudeva. Ensuring that Yogmaya penetrated the womb of Yashoda and Lord Vishnu entered the womb of Devaki Maa. The Seventh Son was none other than Balarama himself and the rest is history.

Vyuha avatar ‘Sankarshana’

Narratives of Balarama are found in Mahabharata, Harivamsha, Bhagavata Purana, Krishna Charit Manas and other Puranas. He is classified as the Vyuha avatar ‘Sankarshana’.

He was named Rama, but because of his great strength, he was called Balarama, Baladeva, or Balabhadra, meaning Strong Rama. He was born in Shravana Purnima.

One day, Nanda requested the presence of Sage Gargamuni, his priest, to name the newborn Krishna and Balarama. When the Garga arrived, Nanda received him well and requested the naming ceremony. Gargamuni then reminded Nanda that Kamsa was looking for the son of Devaki and if he performed the ceremony in opulence, it would come to his attention. Nanda therefore asked Garga to perform the ceremony in secrecy.

Because Balarama, the son of Rohini, increases the transcendental bliss of others, his name is Rama and because of his extraordinary strength, he is called Baladeva. He attracts the Yadus to follow his instructions and therefore his name is Sankarshana.

When his elder brother, fatigued from playing, would lie down with his head upon the lap of a cow herd boy, Lord Krishna would help him relax by personally massaging his feet and offering other services.

Late 19th century lithograph from Bengal depicting Krishna & Balarama
Late 19th century lithograph from Bengal depicting Krishna & Balarama

Balarama’s Childhood

Balarama spent his childhood as a cow herder with his brother Krishna. He killed Dhenuka, an asura sent by Kamsa, as well as Pralamba and Mushtika wrestlers sent by the king. After the evil king died, Balarama and Krishna went to the ashrama of sage Sandipani at Ujjain to study. He married Revati, the daughter of King Kakudmi.

Balarama’s Children

Balarama had 3 children – Nisatha, Uluka and Shashirekha. Shashirekha married the son of Arjuna (his cousin and brother-in-law), Abhimanyu.

Balarama is the celebrated plougher, one of the pillars of agriculture along with livestock with whom Krishna is associated with. The plough is Balarama’s weapon. In the Bhagavata Purana, he uses it to fight demons, dig a way for the Yamuna River to come closer to Vrindavan and pull the entire capital of Hastinapura into the Ganges River.

Balarama was very straightforward and did not always understand Lord Krishna’s complex logic although, he always agreed with his younger brother. When Krishna gave Narayani Sena to Duryodhana, it also included Balarama, but Balarama did not want to fight for both sides. The reason is that he was an honourable person who could not fight his brother Krishna and his disciples Bhima or Duryodhana.

Balarama - An avatar of Adhisesha

He advised them to stop the war, but none responded, so in Krishna’s suggestion he simply left for Pilgrimage to avoid the war and arrived only at the end of the war. When Bhima defeated Duryodhana by striking him in the thigh with his mace, Balarama threatened to kill Bhima. This was prevented when Krishna reminded Balarama of the vow of Bhima—to kill Duryodhana by crushing the thigh he had exposed to Bhima’s wife Draupadi.

In the Bhagavata Purana, it is described that after Balarama took part in the battle causing the destruction of the remainder of the Yadu dynasty and witnessing the disappearance of Krishna, he sat down in a meditative state and departed from this world.

In the Hindu traditions, Balarama has been a farmer’s patron deity, signifying as one who is ‘harbinger of knowledge’, of agricultural tools and prosperity. He is almost always shown and described with Krishna, such as in stealing butter, playing childhood pranks, complaining to Yashoda that his baby brother Krishna had eaten dirt, playing in cow pens, studying together at the school of guru Sandipani, and fighting evil wrestlers sent in by Kamsa to kill the two brothers.

He was the constant companion of Krishna, ever watchful. He is a creative store of knowledge for the agriculturists: the knowledge that dug a water channel to bring Yamuna water to Vrindavan that restored groves, farms and forests that produced goods.

He chooses his incarnation first as he is Adisesha and he had to be there in Vaikuntha before Krishna’s return who is Vishnu. The place where he departed is situated near Somnath Temple in Gujarat. The local people believe that in the cave near the temple place, the white snake who came out of Balarama’s mouth got into that cave and went back to Pataal Loka.