Bay New Network, Visakhapatnam: Commemorating the Appearance of Lord Sri Balarama, Hare Krishna Movement is performing Special puja for the pleasure of Sri Balarama on 10th August 2014 at 6.30 PM at Hare Krishna Movement, MVP Double road, Visakhapatnam. Their Lordships Nitai Gauranga will be adorned with new set of clothes and Jewellery. Maha Sankirtan, Special song of the birth and activities of Sri Balarama, Class and dinner prasadam are other highlights of the Program.
This year Lord Balarama’s appearance day anniversary is 10th August 2014. According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, “Balarama Prabhu appeared after Jhulana-yatra on the purnima, the full-moon day, and, seven days later, Sri Krishna appeared on bhadra-ashtami, the auspicious eighth day of the moon in the month of Bhadra (August/September).”
Lord Balarama is the first expansion of Lord Sri Krishna. He is the original spiritual master, and devotees offer special prayers to Lord Balarama on this day to receive spiritual strength from Him.
He appeared on the full moon day of shravana. The history of His appearance is unique. He was born as the seventh son of Devaki and Vasudeva.
Balarama or Baladeva was the son of Vasudeva by his wife Rohini. He was entrusted to Nanda Maharaja along with his mother, Rohini, when Vasudeva was imprisoned by his brother-in-law Kamsa. So Nanda Maharaja is also the foster father of Balarama and Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama were constant companions from their very childhood, and were stepbrothers.
During his childhood, Balarama killed many demons along with Sri Krishna. During the Kurukshetra battle, he remained neutral. When there was a club-fight between Duryodhana and Bhimasena, he was present on the spot. He was angry at Bhimasena when the latter struck Duryodhana on the thigh, and he wanted to retaliate the unfair action. Lord Sri Krishna saved Bhima from his wrath. But he left the place at once, being disgusted at Bhimasena, and after his departure, Duryodhana fell to the ground to meet his death.
The funeral ceremony of Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, was performed by him, as he was the maternal uncle.
Once Balarama had an argument with the Kaurava clan when they wanted to punish Samba who had kidnapped Duryodhana’s daughter. With his plough, Lord Balarama began dragging Hastinapura toward the water, and ordered the river Ganges, to kill everyone in the city with its water and rid the earth of the Kauravas. Then the matter was settled, and Samba married Duryodhana’s daughter. Even today the city of Hastinapura is visibly elevated on its southern side along the Ganges, thus showing the signs of Lord Balarama’s prowess.
At the last stage, he departed from this world by producing a great white snake from his mouth, and thus he was carried by Seshanaga in the shape of a serpent.