Lord Balaram Appearance Day

When: Saturday August 16, 6 - 8:30 pm

Where: Hare Krishna Temple, 10310 Oaklyn Dr. Potomac, MD 20854,
301-299-2100, www.iskcondc.org

Program includes completely ecstatic kirtans/bhajans, abhishek, prasadam feast.

Volunteer and sponsorship apportunities available. Please call Caitanya Nitai Das 240-476-6540, for more information.
Volunteer help will be needed in decorating, making garlands, cooking,
cuting of vegetables, cleaning etc. More info to come
...

Who is Lord Balarama?
The
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all
incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one and
the same identity. They differ only in form. Balarama is the first
bodily expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna's
transcendental pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world
and is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master.

He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He Himself helps in the
pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other
forms called the catur-vyuha (four armed) forms known as Vasudeva,
Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Anirudha. He executes the orders of Lord Krishna
in the work of creation, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Sri Krishna
in various ways. In all the forms He tastes the transcendental bliss of
serving Krishna. No one can approach Krishna without first getting the mercy
of Baladeva.

Descent of Balarama

Whenever Krishna appears in the material world, He is accompanied by His
associates and paraphernalia. Five thousand years ago when Krishna descended
into the material world, He was first preceded by Baladeva. Only after
Baladeva give His mercy did Krishna descend, such is the intimate
relationship between Krishna and Baladeva.

When Baladeva appeared as the seventh child in the womb of Devaki, she could
understand that this was a divine child and this made her all the more
concerned about His safety. Even Kamsa could sense His potency and he became
fearful, thinking he may have been tricked by the prophecy that he will be
slain only by the eight child of Devaki. At this time Krishna instructed
Yogamaya, His internal potency, to transfer the unborn child from the womb
of Devaki to that of Rohini, one of the other wives of Vasudeva, who was
hiding from Kamsa in the house of Nanda Maharaja in Gokul.

In this way Balarama was born in Gokul under the protection of Nanda
Maharaja. Garga Muni the venerable kulguru (family priest) of the Yadu
dynasty revealed to Rohini that the child she was carrying was indeed that
of her husband Vasudeva. At the time of the name-giving ceremony he named
the child Rama, one who gives all pleasures. Referring to the immense
strength of the child, Garga Muni predicted that He will also be known as
Balarama (bala meaning strength). Since He was forcibly attracted from the
womb of Devaki to that of Rohini, He was also be called Sankarshana. As the
son of Rohini He was known as Rohini-nandan and as the elder brother of
Krishna He was also called Douji.

The form of Lord Balarama

Powerful Lord Balarama is sixteen years old, full of the luster of youth and
has a fair complexion the color of crystal. He wears blue garments and a
garland of forest flowers. His handsome hair is tied in a graceful topknot.
Splendid earrings adorn His ears and His neck is splendidly decorated with
garlands of flowers and strings of jewels. Splendid armlets and bracelets
ornament Douji's graceful and very strong arms and His feet are decorated
with splendid jeweled anklets.

Lord Balarama's beauty is enhanced by the earrings touching His cheeks. His
face is decorated with tilaka made from musk, and His broad chest is
ornamented with a garland of gunja. Balarama's voice is very grave and His
arms are very long, touching His thighs

The splendor of Lord Balarama's transcendental form eclipses many millions
of glistening rising moons, and the slightest scent of His boundless
strength is sufficient to destroy many armies of demons. Although He knows
the supernatural power of His younger brother, Krishna, still, out of love
for Him, He never leaves Krishna alone in the forest even for a moment.
Balarama is Sri Krishna's dearest friend and is a great reservoir of the
nectar mellows of many kinds of transcendental pastimes.