LORD BALARAMA APPEARANCE DAY 2014

TOMORROW IS BALARAMA PURNIMA
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10th  2014

www.hindupad.com - Hindus, particularly the 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”
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math - www.sreecgmath.org

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/