Lord Balaram appeared as the son of Mother Rohini and Vasudeva. His auspicious appearance day is celebrated as Balaram Jayanti which also known as Balaram Purnima. When Mother Devaki became pregnant for the seventh time, Lord Balaram appeared within her womb. Although Balaram appeared as the son of Devaki, he was transferred to the womb of Rohini to appear as her son.
When performing the name-giving ceremony, Garga Muni informed Nanda Maharaja that the son of Rohini would be very pleasing to His family members and relatives and therefore would be called Rama. In the future, he would be extraordinarily strong and therefore would be called Baladeva.
Garga Muni said further, “Because your family and the family of the Yadus are so intimately connected and attracted, his name will also be Sankarshan.” This means that Garga Muni awarded three names to the son of Rohini—namely, Balarama, Sankarshan and Baladeva.
Balaram Jayanti is a commemoration to celebrate the auspicious appearance day of Lord Balaram, the elder brother and a plenary expansion of Lord Sri Krishna. This festival is celebrated annually on the full moon day of August (Sharavana) to request the divine grace of Lord Balaram for a spiritually healthy and prosperous life.
In the Upanishads, it is stated, "nāyam ātmā bala-hīnena labhyaḥ." The purport is that one cannot attain the supreme platform of self-realization without being sufficiently favored by Balaram.
The Transcendental Appearance of Lord Balaram will be celebrated on August 19, 2024. At the Hare Krishna Movement Jaipur, the day of Balaram Jayanti will feature a maha-abhishekam in the evening, using panchamrita, panchagavya, flowers, and other sacred items to honor Sri Sri Krishna Balaram and invoke auspiciousness.
Vibrant kirtans and bhajans will be sung to satisfy Their Lordships. The deities will be adorned with splendid dresses, ornaments, and flowers. Devotees will fast until dusk, and a devotional offering of a variety of dishes will be made.
A maha-arati will be performed, and everyone will receive flavorsome maha-prasadam and obtain the blessings of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram.
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 Baladeva, and Brahma, born from the lotus flower from Garbhodakashayi Vishnu, is an expansion of Baladeva. This indicates that Krishna and Baladeva are not subjected to the regulations of the universe; on the contrary, the whole universe is under their subjugation.
They appeared at the request of Brahma to relieve the burden of the world, and They relieved the world by many superhuman activities so that everyone became happy and prosperous. Without the grace of the Lord, no one can become happy and prosperous. (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.1.26 Purport)
One day, the cowherd boys expressed their desire to taste the ripened fruits of palm trees in the Talavana forest, guarded by the demon Dhenukasura who is accompanied by many other demoniac friends, all assuming the forms of asses.
Krishna and Balaram wanted to please Their friends and took them all to the Talavana forest. Balaram began to yank the trees with His arms, exhibiting the strength of an elephant, and all the ripe fruits fell down on the ground.
Upon hearing the sound of the falling fruits, the demon Dhenukasura, appeared before Balaram and kicked His chest with his hind legs. At first, Balaram did not say anything, but with great anger the demon kicked Him again more vehemently.
This time Balaram immediately caught hold of the legs of the ass with one hand and, wheeling him around, threw him into the treetops. While he was being wheeled around by Balaram, the demon lost his life.
Once, while Krishna and Balaram were playing with the cowherd boys a great demon named Pralambasura entered their company assuming the form of a cowherd boy. Krishna divided the boys into two teams. Some of them were on the side of Krishna, and some others took the side of Balaram.
The arrangement is that the defeated members should carry the victorious members on their backs, as a horse carries its master. The party of Balaram, accompanied by Sridama and Vrishabha, came out victorious. Krishna’s party had to carry them on their backs.
Pralambasura had to carry Balaram on his back. He took Balaram far away from the others. Though the demon was very strong and powerful, he could not carry Balaram and suddenly he assumed his real form.
Realizing what had happened, Lord Balaram struck the head of the demon with His strong fist, and the demon fell down dead immediately, just like a snake with a smashed head.
Balaram, or Sankarshan, is the source of spiritual power, or the original spiritual master. And the spiritual master is the representative of Balaram, the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who supplies spiritual strength.
Seek the blessings of Lord Balarama on this auspicious commemoration of Balaram Purnima, for strength to overcome all our challenges and be favored by Sri Sri Krishna Balaram. Generously contribute to enhance the grandeur of the celebrations and be blessed with the transcendental mercy of Lord Balaram.
