Balarama

 

What is this avataram is about? If you understood all the above avatarams by vishnu grace or reading vedas, puranas, Ramayanam and Mahabharatha now you wise and scholarly to start the samadhi process for enlightenment. Now you are a perfect human for transcending. Now it is up to you do the sadhana. Budha is a perfect example. Now you must abandon everything and focus only on samadhi. Now patanjali yoga sutra to be followed. Yama, Niyama,asana, pranayama, prathyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. 

Story

Oppressed by millions of Deityas (Asuras) in the guise of arrogant kings, Mother EARTH sought BRAHMA as her refuge. Brahma accompanied by Lord Shiva and other celestials went to the abode of Lord Vishnu. There he began to pray with concentrated mind. At a stage he was in the state of deep trance. At that time he heard a voice in the sky the source of which was invisible. The Creator, while still in that state heard, "Hear from me, O! Gods, the word of the Supreme person. Then set at once. The infliction of Mother Earth had already been known among the Yadus. Lord Vishnu himself will be born in the house of Vasudeva. All the celestial women will be born as Gopis. The thousand headed Ananta (Aadisesha), the cosmic Serpent will precede Him as His elder brother. The rest, the Lord will take care, Himself". Hearing these words all returned to their abode.

Accordingly, Aadisesha or Ananta took the incarnation as Balarama. Balarama was conceived by Devaki. This was her seventh pregnancy. We must remember that the Lord proposed to be born as Krishna as Devaki's eighth son. If Devaki should deliver a child it would certainly be put to death by Kamsa. Then what would happen to Ananta's incarnation as Balarama? It has become incumbment on the Lord to save the seventh child of Devaki. The foetus grew in Devaki's womb for six months. Then Maha Vishnu directed HIS Yoga maaya, a part of His Creative Energy as follows:

"Proceed to Gokulam where resides on of the wives of Vasudeva named Rohini. At present there exists in Devaki's womb My own part manifestation known by the name SESHA or ANANTA. Taking it out, place it in the womb of Rohini. Then I shall assume the rule of a son of Devaki with all my divine potencies. As I am born of Devaki as her eight son, you too shall be born of Yasoda as her daughter and be of help to me in my LEELA (activities). Then you will permanently stay in this world, propitiated by people. They will call you by different names like DURGA, BHADRAKAALI, VAISHNAVI, VIJAYA, CHANDIKA, MAAYAA, NARAYANI and so on".

In course of time Rohini brought forth a beautiful plumb fair male child who was named Balaram meaning the mighty one - and also SANKARASHNA and Halayudha - that is one whose weapon is the PLOUGH (Perhaps it was the intention of the Lord to suggest to the world that agriculture is vital for the advancement of any nation or kingdom).

The demon Dhenuka who came in the form of a very huge ass was killed by Balarama and another Pralamba who came as one of the cowherd boys and tried to carry away Balarama was just strangled to death by him. At Mathura Balarama played his part well by aiding Krishna kill the mighty elephant KUVALAYAPIDA - while he himself killed MUSHTICA the mighty wrestler of Kamsa's court. At the same time Krishna killed Kamsa in that very amphitheatre in the presence o Balarama. Then things moved fast.

Balarama played a pivotal role during the Mahabharata era. He is credited with teaching Duryodhana and Bheema, the skills and techniques associated with fighting with a mace. Though Krishna favored the Pandavas in the epic, Balarama was conspicuous because of his support to the Kauravas. Balarama even cherished the desire of marrying his sister Subhadra to Duryodhana, but destiny intervened, and she eventually got married to the Pandava, Arjuna. Even when Balarama wanted to marry his daughter to Duryodhana’s son, but fate had other plans, and she got married to Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son.

When Bheema attacked Duryodhana on the thigh, in contravention of the rules of war, Balarama was upset. However, he was persuaded to accept this transgression by his brother Krishna, who informed him that Duryodhana had committed a grave sin when he commanded Draupadi to sit on his thigh in front of all the elders in the court.