Balarama (बलराम, Balarāma ), also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra and Halayudha , is the elder brother of Krishna (an avatar of the god Vishnu ) and is regarded generally as an avatar of Shesha . He is also sometimes considered as the Sankarshana form of Vishnu and the eighth avatar of Vishnu. He may have originated in Vedic times as a deity of agriculture and fertility hence his name Balaram (Rama with a plow). In scripture, Vishnu impregnated the belly of the goddess Devaki with two strands of hair, one black, one white. To ensure their safety, they were transferred before birth to Rohini. Krishna was born with darker complexion, while Balarama was fair. In Jainism he is known as Baladeva. He is often depicted with a drinking cup, pitcher, shield and sword. Balarama was a son of GURJAR king NAND BABA . The evil king Kamsa, the brother of Devaki, was intent upon killing the children of his sister because of a prediction that he would die at the hands of her eighth son. Vishnu then impregnated the belly of the goddess Devaki with two strands of hair, one black, one white. To ensure their safety, their essence was transferred before birth to Rohini, who also desired a child. At birth, Krishna had a darker complexion, while Balarama was born fair. The other name of Balarama is also Sankarshana, meaning a spirit transferred between two wombs. He was named Rama, but because of his great strength he was called Balarama, Baladeva or Balabhadra, meaning Strong Rama. He was born under Shravana nakshatra on Shraavana Purnima, or Raksha Bandhan . He is often depicted with a drinking cup, pitcher, axe, shield and sword. Balarama may have originated in Vedic times as a deity of agriculture and fertility. In Jainism he is known as Baladeva. One day, Nanda Maharaja requested the presence of Gargamuni, his priest, to name the newborn Krishna and Balarama. When the Gargamuni arrived, Nanda Maharaja, received him well and requested the naming ceremony. Gargamuni then reminded Nanda Maharaja that Kaṁsa was looking for the son of Devaki, and if he performed the ceremony in opulence, it would come to his attention. Nanda Maharaja therefore asked Gargamuni to perform the ceremony in secret, and Gargamuni did so: Balarama spent his childhood as a cow herder with his brother Krishna. He killed Dhenukasura, an asura sent by Kansa, as well as Pralambasura and Mushtika wrestlers sent by the king. After the evil king died, Balarama and Krishna went to the ashrama of sage Sandipanis at Ujjayini for study. He later married Revati , the daughter of King Kakudmi , ruler of Kushasthali or Anarta. Balarama taught both Duryodhana of the Kauravas and Bhima of the Pandavas the art of fighting with a mace. When war broke between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, Balarama cared for both sides, and so remained neutral. When Bhima defeated Duryodhana by striking him in the groin with his mace, Balarama threatened to kill Bhima. This was prevented when Krishna reminded Balarama of the vow of Bhima—to kill Duryodhana by crushing the thigh he had exposed to Bhimas wife Draupadi. Disappearance Death of Balarama In the Bhagavata Purana , it is described that after Balarama took part in the battle causing the destruction of the remainder of the Yadu dynasty, and witnessing the disappearance of Krishna, he sat down in a meditative state and departed from this world. Some scriptures describe a great white snake that left the mouth of Balarama, in reference to his identity as Ananta- Sesha . The place where he departed is situated near Somnath Temple in Gujarat. The local people of Veraval believe that the in cave near the temple place, the white snake who came out of Balaramas mouth got into that cave and went back to Paatal Lok. A VERY GOOD MORNING TO ONE AND ALL FANTASTIC FRIENDS.......!!
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 03:24:15 +0000
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