Chapter 1 of Vaisnava Calendar : Balarama Purnima

[Paramananda das]

 When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada choose to never enter grhastha life he had one thought only will the children becoming Krsna conscious , and he decided that they may not, so he chose not become a grhastha but stayed a celibate his whole life and entered sannyasa asrama :

He took sannysa in front of the picture of his Guru Maharaja ,Srila Gaura Kisora Das Babaji , he had chanted 300.000 names ,192 rounds daily for some years prior to taking sannyasa , from 1914 to 1918 , bascially during the period of World war 1 was taking place, he was sitting at the Yoga pitha  in Mayapure and chanting day and night .He then founded Gaudiya math , Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupadas standard for Balarama Purnima was 24 hours fasting untill morning after Balarama purnima , same as how he observed Janmastami ,Gaura Purnima , Radhastami , Rama Navami ec as nirjala along with all ekadasis was also nirjala and braking fast on dvadasi , thus he was the last acarya in our line that fully embodied the teachings of Srila Rupa Goswami , he did not compromise.

names te gaura-vani-sri-murtaye dina-tarine
rupanuga-viruddhapasiddhanta-dhvanta-harine

WORD FOR WORD

namah--obeisances; to--unto you; gaura-vani--teachings of Lord Caitanya; sri-murtaye--unto the personified; dina--(of) the fallen; tarine--unto the deliverer; rupa-anuga--the philosophy which follows the teachings of Srila RupaGosvami; viruddha--against; apasiddhanta--(of) unauthorized statements; dhvanta--the darkness; harine--unto you who are removing.

TRANSLATION

I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, who are the per sonified teachings of Lord Caitanya. You are the deliverer of the fallen souls. You do not tolerate any statement which is against the teachings of devotional service enunciated by Srila Rupa Gosvami.

 

I can quote many things in glorification of Lord Balarama as the vaibhava expansion of Krsna that Lord Balarama must be worshipped on the same level as Krsna ,so there is no question of Balarama Purnima being any less than Janmastami .When I first joined ISKCON we fasted on Balarama purima untill 8 pm at night then we took ekadasi prasadam , nowadays it is another story ,some take grains after half day fasting ,and so many other speculationes are there.At least it should be half day fast and then no grain prasadam 

 You can look through the Prabhupada folio and there is no instruction given by Srila Prabhupada specifically Balarama Purnima that I found ,if anyone finds please let me know.But since I joined ISKCON in 1979 , there was a strict standard still in place for Balarama Purnima , there was no question that you can serve grain prasadam or a birthday Balarama cake that said Balarama ki jaya.Such cakes are simply sensegratification in the name of fasting .Like drinking water under water on a nirjala fasting day while taking a dip in a river.Cheating nothing else.

Srila Sanatana Goswami and Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami have not mentioned Balarama Purnima in Haribhakti Vilasa which is really a shock to me , I am not sure if something has been removed of  the original Hari Bhakti Vilasa ,but it does not seem so.

Sometimes texts get changed and interpolated even Mahabharat had some  changes that was rectified by Srila Madhavacarya .

Garga Samhita does not describe Lord Balaramas appearance day but Sri Garga Muni has given the Gayatri Mantra for Lord Balarama, Balarama Kavacha, Balarama Sahasra Nama etc 

Now Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya has given instruction on fasting on Lord Nityananda Prabhus appearanceday this is in his 108 names of Lord Nityananda , so the same is true for Lord Balarama.

 

 

 
maaghe maasi site pakshe
trayo-dashyaam tithau sadaa
uposhanam pujanam ca
shri-nityaananda-vaasare
yad yat sah kurute kaamam
tat tad eva labhen narah

Paatha Mahaatmya:-

The most fortunate soul, who recites this Stotra, fasts and offers worship to the Supreme Lord Shri Nityananda Prabhu on the most auspicious thirteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Maagha{Jan-Feb} [ Shri Nityananda Trayodashi Tithi ], will certainly have all of ones desires quickly fulfilled.

Lord Balarama and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are the same Supreme Lords,Srila Narottama das Thakura has sung:
balarama hoilo nitai

vaibhava-prakasa krsnera-sri-balarama
varna-matra-bheda, saba-krsnera samana

Balarama. Balarama is considered to be the elder brother of Krsna. When Krsna was present, Balarama became His elder brother. When Rama was there, this Balarama represented Himself as His younger brother, Laksmana. So Balarama is the first manifestation of His personal expansion.

Adi Purana states:
“He who is Krsna is He who is Balarama, and he who is Balarama is He who is Krsna.Anyone that sees Them as being different will never leave the world of birth and death.”
Hari Vamsa states:
That jiva who makes a distinction between   Balarama and Krsna verily lives in hell.This is spoken by the great sages.

This is our Gaudiya  vaisnava Philosophy , taking grain prasadam on Balarama Purnima is a sin , this is also Madhava tithi :

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung :

madhava-tithi, bhakti-janani,
jetane palana kori
krishna-basati, basati boli’,
parama adare bori

 

The holy days like Ekadasi and Janmashtami (and Balarama Purnima) are the mother of devotion for those devotees who respect them. Let the holy places of Krishna’s pastimes be my places of worship, and bless me

 

Garga Samhita canto 1 chapter 10 describes the transcendental birth of Lord Balarama :
Texts 27 and 28

atha vraje panca-dineshu bhadre
tithau ca shashöhyam ca site budhe ca
uccair grahaih pancabhir avrite ca
lagne tulakhye dina-madhya-deshe

sureshu varshatsu su-pushpa-varsham
ghaneshu muncatsu ca vari-bindun
babhuva devo vasudeva-patnyam
vibhasayan nanda-griham sva-bhasa

atha - then; vraje - in Vraja; panca-dineshu - in five days; bhadre - in Bhadra; tithau - in the day; ca - and; shashöhyam - on the sixth; ca - also; site - in the bright fortnight; budhe - in mercury; ca - and; uccaih - exalted; grahaih - with planets; pancabhih - with five; avrite - covered; ca - and; lagne - on the horizon; tula-akhye - in Libra; dina-madhya-deshe - at midday; sureshu - as the demigods; varshatsu - showered; su - beautiful; pushpa - of flowers; varsham - a rain; ghaneshu - as the clouds; muncatsu - released; ca - also; vari-bindun - drops of water; babhuva - became; devah - the Supreme Lord; vasudeva-patnyam - in the wife of Vasudeva; vibhasayan - illuminating; nanda-griham - Nanda's home; sva - with His own; bhasa - splendor.

Then, in Vraja, after five days, in the month of Bhadra (August-September), on the sixth day of the bright fortnight, when Mercury, five exalted planets, and the constellation Libra were on the horizon, at midday, as the demigods showered a beautiful rain of flowers and the clouds sprinkled drops of water, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, illuminating Nanda's home with His splendor, was born from Vasudeva's wife (Rohini).

Text 29

nando 'pi kurvan chishu-jata-karma
dadau dvijebhyo niyutam gavam ca
gopan samahuya su-gayakanam
ravair maha-mangalam atanoti

nandah - Nanda; api - indeed; kurvan - performing; shishu - of the child; jata-karma - the birth-ceremony; dadau - gave; dvijebhyah - to the brahmanas; niyutam - a million; gavam - of cows; ca - also; gopan - the gopas; samahuya - calling; su-gayakanam - of singers; ravaih - with the music; maha-mangalam - great auspiciousness; atanoti - gave.

Nanda performed the child's birth ceremony and gave in charity a million cows to the brahmanas. Then he called the gopas and observed a very auspicious festival with the music of many singers and instrumentalists.

note:

 Srila Vyasadeva and Narada Muni and other sages also appeared to Nanda Maharaja who washed their lotusfeet, Srila Vyasadeva offered prayers to Lord Balarama fortelling His lilas to come and by chanting this prayer on Balarama Purnima one attains Goloka Vrindavana :He was born under Shravana nakshatra on Shraavana Purnima or Raksha Bandhan

Text 30

 

 

dvaipayano devala-devarata-

     vashishöha-vacaspatibhir maya caagatya tatraiva samasthito 'bhut

     padyadibhir nanda-kritaih prasannah

 

     dvaipayanah - Vyasa; devala - Devala; devarata - Devarata; vashishöha - Vashishöha; vacaspatibhih - with Brihaspati; maya - with me; ca - also; agatya - coming; tatra - there; eva - indeed; samasthitah - situated; abhut - became; padya - with water for washing the feet; adibhih - beginning with; nanda - by Nanda; kritaih - done; prasannah - pleased.

 

 

     Coming there with Devala, Devarata, Vashishöha, Brihaspati, and myself (Narada), Vyasadeva was pleased when Nanda washed his feet and worshiped Him in many ways.

 

 

Text 31

 

 

shri-nanda uvaca

sundaro balakah ko 'yam

     na drishyo yat-samah kvacit

katham panca-dinaj jatas

     tan me bruhi maha-mune

 

     shri-nandah uvaca - Shri Nanda said; sundarah - handsome;  balakah - boy; kah - who?; ayam - He; na - not;  drishyah - visible; yat - with whom; samah - equal; kvacit - anywhere; katham - how?; panca - after five; dinat - days; jatah - born; tat - that; me - me; bruhi - please tell; maha-mune - O great sage.

 

 

     Shri Nanda said: Who is this handsome boy, whose equal cannot be seen anywhere? How is it He was born after only five days (in the womb)? O great sage, please tell me.

 

 

Text 32

 

 

shri-vyasa uvaca

aho bhagyam tu te nanda

     shishuh sheshah sanatanah

devakyam vasudevasya

     jato 'yam mathura-pure

 

     shri-vyasah uvaca - Shri Vyasa said; ahah - Oh; bhagyam - good fortune; tu - indeed; te - of you; nanda - O Nanda; shishuh - child; sheshah - Shesha; sanatanah - eternal; devakyam - in Devaki; vasudevasya - of Vasudeva; jatah - born; ayam - He; mathura-pure - in Mathura City..

 

 

     Shri Vyasa said: Nanda, you are very fortunate. This child is eternal Ananta Shesha. In Mathura City He was conceived by Vasudeva in Devaki.

 

 

Text 33

 

 

krishnecchaya tad-udarat

     pranito rohinim shubham

nanda-raja tvaya drishyo

     durlabho yoginam api

 

     krishna - of Lord Krishna; icchaya - by the wish; tat - of her; udarat - from the womb; pranitah - brought; rohinim - to Rohini; shubham - beautiful; nanda-raja - O King Nanda; tvaya - by you; drishyah - to be seen; durlabhah - difficult; yoginam - by the yogis; api - even.

 

 

     By Lord Krishna's wish He was brought to beautiful Devaki. O King Nanda, you may see Him even though the great yogis cannot.

 

 

Text 34

 

 

tad-darshanartham prapto 'ham

     vedavyaso maha-munih

tasmat tvam darshayasmakam

     shishu-rupam parat param

 

     tad-darshana-artham - to see Him; praptah - attained; aham - I; devakya - by Devaki; asau - he; maha-munih - a great sage; tasmat - therefore; tvam - you; darshaya - please show; asmakam - to us; shishu - child; rupam - form; parat param - greater than the greatest.

 

 

     I, Vedavyasa, have come here to see Him. Therefore, please show Him, the Supreme Person who is greater than the greatest and who now displays the form of an infant, to us.

 

 

Text 35

 

 

shri-narada uvaca

atha nandah shishum shesham

     darshayam asa vismitah

drishöva prenkha-sthitam praha

     natva satyavati-sutah

 

     shri-naradah uvaca - Shri Narada said; atha - then; nandah - Nanda; shishum - the child; shesham - Shesha; darshayam asa - showed; vismitah - astonished; drishöva - seeing; prenkha - on the swinging-cradle; sthitam - situated; praha - said; natva - bowing; satyavati - of Satyavati; sutah - the son.

 

 

     Shri Narada said: Then Nanda showed them the child Aannta Shesha. Gazing at the child in the cradle, Vyasa, struck with wonder, bowed down, and spoke.

 

 

Text 36

 

 

shri-vyasa uvaca

devadhideva bhagavan

     kama-pala namo 'stu te

namo 'nantaya sheshaya

     sakshad-ramaya te namah

 

     shri-vyasah uvaca - Shri Vyasa said; deva - of gods; adhideva - O Lord; bhagavan - O master of opulences; kama - of desires; pala - O protector; namah - obeisances; astu - may be te - to You; namah - obeisances; anantaya sheshaya - to Lord Ananta Shesha;  sakshad-ramaya - directly Lord Balarama; te - to You; namah - obeisances.

 

 

     Shri Vyasa said: O master of the demigods, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Lord who grants desires, obeisances to You! Obeisances to You, who are Lord Aananta Shesha! Obeisances to You, who are directly Lord Rama!

 

 

Text 37

 

 

dhara-dharaya purnaya

     sva-dhamne sira-panaye

sahasra-shirase nityam

     namah sankarshanaya te

 

     dhara - of the earth; dharaya - to the holder; purnaya - perfect and complete; sva-dhamne - self-effulgent;  sira - a plow; panaye - in hand; sahasra - a thousand; shirase - heads; nityam - eternally; namah - obeisances; sankarshanaya - Sankarshana; te - to You.

 

 

     Eternal obeisances to You, Lord Sankarshana, the maintainer of the earth, perfect and complete, effulgent and glorious, holding a plow in Your hand, and having a thousand heads!

 

 

Text 38

 

 

revati-ramana tvam vai

     baladevo 'cyutagrajah

halayudhah pralamba-ghnah

     pahi mam purushottama

 

     revati-ramana - O husband of Revati; tvam - You; vai - indeed; baladevah - Baladeva; acyuta - of the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead; agrajah - the elder broehter; hala - plow; ayudhah - weapon; pralamba - of Pralambasura; ghnah - the killer; pahi - protect; mam - me; purushottama - O Supreme Person.

 

 

     You are Baladeva, Revati's husband and the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead's elder brother. You are armed with a plow. You are Pralambasura's killer. O Supreme Person, please save me!

 

 

Text 39

 

 

balaya balabhadraya

     talankaya namo namah

nilambaraya gauraya

     rauhineyaya te namah

 

     balaya - Bala; balabhadraya - Balabhadra; talankaya - whose mark is the palm tree; namah - obeisances;  namah - obeisances; nila - blue; ambaraya - garments;  gauraya - fair complexion; rauhineyaya - the son of Rohini; te - to You; namah - obeisances.

 

 

     Obeisances! Obeisances to You, who are known as Bala and Balabhadra, and who carry a palm-tree flag! Obeisances to You, Rohini's fair-complexioned son dressed in blue garments!

 

 

Text 40

 

 

dhenukarir mushöikarih

     kuöarir balvalantakah

rukmy-arih kupakarnarih

     kumbhandaris tvam eva hi

 

     dhenuka - of Dhenuka; arih - the enemy; mushöika - of Musöika; arih - the enemy; kuöa - of Kuöa; arih - the enemy; balvala - of Balvala; antakah - the end; rukmi - of Rukmi; arih - enemy; kupakarna - of Kupakarna; arih - the enemy; kumbhanda - of Kumbhanda; arih - the enemy; tvam - You; eva - certainly; hi - certainly.

 

 

     You are the enemy of Dhenuka, Mushtika, Kuöa, Rukmi, Kupakarna, and Kumbhanda. You put an end to Balvala.

 

 

Text 41

 

 

kalindi-bhedano 'si tvam

     hastinapura-karshakah

dvividarir yadavendro

     vraja-mandala-mandanah

 

     kalindi - the yamuna; bhedanah - dividing; asi - are; tvam - You; hastinapura - of Hastinapura; karshakah - the puller; dvivida - of Dvivida; arih - the enemy; yadava - of the Yadavas; indrah - the king; vraja - of Vraja; mandala - of the circle; mandanah - the decoration.

 

 

     You divided the Yamuna and dragged Hastinapura. You are the enemy of Dvivida. You are the king of the Yadavas and the decoration of the circle of Vraja.

 

 

Text 42

 

 

kamsa-bhratri-prahatasi

     tirtha-yatrakarah prabhuh

duryodhana-guruh sakshat

     pahi pahi prabho jagat

 

     kamsa - of Kamsa; bhratri - of the brothers; prahata - the killer; asi - You are; tirtha-yatrakarah - the pilgrim who goes to holy places; prabhuh - the Lord; duryodhana-guruh - the teacher of Duryodhana; sakshat - directly; pahi - protect; pahi - protect; prabhah - O Lord; jagat - the universe.

 

 

     You are the killer of Kamsa's brothers, a pilgrim who goes to holy places, the Supreme Master, and the teacher of Duryodhana. O Lord, please protect, please protect the world!

 

 

Text 43

 

 

jaya jayacyuta deva parat para

     svayam ananta dig-anta-gatam yashah

sura-munindra-phanindra-varaya te

     musaline baline haline namah

 

     jaya - glories; jaya - glories; acyuta - O infallible; deva - Lord; parat para - greater than the greatest; svayam - personally; ananta - Ananta; dik - the directions; anta - the end; gatam - gone; yashah - fane; sura - the demigods; muni - of sages; indra - kings; phani - of serpents; indra - kings; varaya - top the best; te - to You; musaline - who hold a club; baline - powerful; haline - who hold a plow; namah - obeisances.

 

 

     O infallble Lord, O greater than the greatest, O Lord Ananta, O Lord whose fame is everywhere, glory, glory to You! Obeisances to You, who hold a plow and a club and are the master of the demigods, great sages, and regal serpents!

 

 

Text 44

 

 

iha paöhet satatam stavanam tu yah

     sa tu hareh paramam padam avrajet

jagati sarva-balam tv ari-mardanam

     bhavati tasya jayah sa-janam dhanam

 

     iha - here; paöhet - reads; satatam - regularly; stavanam - prayer; tu - certainly; yah - who; sah - he; tu - certainly; hareh - of Lord Hari; paramam - the supreme; padam - abode; avrajet - goes; jagati - in the world; sarva - all; balam - strength; tu - indeed; ari - enemies; mardanam - crushing; bhavati - becomes; tasya - of him; jayah - victory; sa-janam - with followers; dhanam - wealth.

 

 

     A person who regularly reads or recites these prayers attains Lord Hari's supreme abode. Even in this world he attains all strength. He crushes his enemies. For him are victory, wealth, and followers.

 

 

Text 45

 

 

shri-narada uvaca

balam parikramya shatam pranamya tair

     dvaipayano deva parasharatmajah

vishala-buddhir muni-badarayanah

     sarasvatim satyavati-suto yayau

 

     shri-naradah uvaca - Shri Narada said; balam - Lord Balarama; parikramya - circumambulating; shatam - a hundred times; pranamya - bowing down; taih - with them; dvaipayanah - Vyasadeva; deva - O lord; parasharatmajah - the son of Parashara Muni; vishala - great;  buddhih - intelligence; muni-badarayanah - Vyasa Muni; sarasvatim - to the Sarasvati; satyavati-sutah - the son of satyavati; yayau - went.

 

 

     Shri Narada said: After circumambulating Lord Balarama and bowing down before Him a hundred times in the company of (the other sages), intelligent Vyasa Muni, who was the son of Parashara and Satyavati, went to the Sarasvati river.