Tattva-viveka
Rama Rama!
Gauravani Dasa - December 11, 2011 10:08 pm
I heard GM say in a recent talk that Vasudeva Krishna is an expansion of Balarama. Did I heard this correctly?
If so, could someone explain this in more detail? What is the relationship between Balarama and the catur-vyuha?
Does bhakti directed towards the catur-vyuha (like Sri Vaisnavism?) somehow assist Balarama in his relationship with Yasodanandan Krisna? Or is Balarama just facilitating sristi-lila through the catur-vyuha?
Gauravani Dasa - December 12, 2011 4:10 pm
Found an explanation from Baladeva Purnima 2008:
Balarama is the Deity presiding over sandhini-sakti, which is the essence of the suddha-sattva, transcendental existence. Sandhini means “existence potency.” So that which takes place in the lila is a combination of samvit and hladini, the knowing potency and the bliss potency, within suddha-sattva, or on the plane of sandhini-sakti. That is real bhakti. Balarama expands the dhama and manifests all the forms in the lila. Even Krsna’s form is a manifestation of Balarama’s sandhini sakti. Just see how he is woven into the fabric of existence like the warp and weft of a cloth; Balarama is described like this in the Bhagavatam. He is involved in everything, everywhere. We owe our existence to him. From Balarama expands the dhama and so many associates for serving Krsna. Because he has the sentiment of a guru (vatsalya-bhakti), friend (sakhya-bhakti), and servant of Krsna (dasya-bhakti), he presides over all three of these sentiments and expands personalities to participate in the lila in all of them. He is the root of the service ego--bhakta abhiman mula balarama--that underlies the entire lila.
From Baladeva comes Mula-Sankarasana for lila in Dvaraka and Mathura. From Mula-Sankarsana comes Narayana, and the second catur-vyuha. Then Sankarsana of the second catur-vyuha expands associates in Vaikuntha. Then he expands further as Karanodakasayi Visnu, and this Maha-Visnu expands so many souls for this world, the baddha-jiva.
So we owe our existence to Balarama; he is the very basis of existence. He is involved in Krsna-lila both directly and indirectly by looking the other way. We say: Hare, Krsna, Rama. These three names are in the Hare Krsna mantra. There are many ways to understand this, and this is one way: hladini, samvit, sandhini. Radha presides over hladini sakti, the pleasure potency; Krsna presides over the samvit sakti, the power to know; and Balarama presides over sandhini sakti, the existential potency. Hare, Krsna, Rama. This is Vrndavana. These three make up Vrndavana. Wherever there are Radha and Krsna, Balarama is also there in the background. So don’t think Rama is not involved in Krsna’s romantic life; he is Krsna’s dearmost friend, and there is no Krsna lila, or any lila for that matter, without Balarama.
Braja-sundari Dasi - December 16, 2011 6:05 pm
Thank you, Gauravani! 
This is such interesting but also difficult topic. I`m confused every time I hear about it.
Here is compilation about Lord Balarama I found on line: http://leagueofdevotees.blogspot.com/
Not everything has the verse number confirming but nice anyway
Friday, December 16, 2011
<A href="http://leagueofdevotees.blogspot.com/2011/12/b-l-r-m.html">B A L A R A M A
Names, forms, qualities, characteristics, etc. of Balarama
Position:
Vilasa expansion, Tadekatma rupa: Different bodily features, for the purpose of pastimes: Vaibhava vilasa: in the mood of a cowherd boy in Gokula, Balarama serves Krsna.
Svamsa expansion, Tadekatma rupa: From Balarama come all the avataras, namely purusa, guna, yuga, lila, manvantara, saktyavesa Vaibhava Prakasa, from Svayam Prakasa, from Svayam Rupa (the form by which the Lord is directly understood): Balarama in ksatriya mood in Mathura.
"Balarama is the original Sankarsana. He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krsna. He himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krsna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms. He executes the orders of Lord Krsna in the work of creation, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Krsna in various ways." (He expands as Maha_sankarsana, Karanabdhisayi, Garbhodakasayi, Ksirodakasayi and Sesa.)
Appearance:
In His previous incarnation as Laksmana, the younger brother of Ramacandra, He was forced to do many things which He did not want: Taking Sita to the forest to leave her there, leaving Sita when the demon Marica (sounding like Ramacandra) called to him for help; lighting a fire for mother Sita to be tested in after returning from Lanka; Vasista's judgement that Laksmana could serve Ramacandra in all public affairs, Sita in all private affairs was not agreeable to Laksmana; bearing the insults of Sita in the forest when Marica called. When lighting the fire, Laksmana made a solemn vow that He would never again appear as the younger brother of the Lord.
When Devaki became pregnant for the seventh time, a plenary expansion of Krsna known as Ananta appeared within her womb. Devaki was overwhelmed both with jubilation and lamentation... Krsna ordered Yogamaya to appear and arrange for the transfer of Sesa from Devaki's to Rohini's womb. Due to being forcibly attracted to the womb of Rohini, He would be known as Sankarsana, the source of spiritual power -- bala -- by which one would be able to attain the highest bliss of life, known as ramana.
Pastimes:
__Getting Krsna in trouble for eating dirt
__Stealing milk and yogurt with Krsna
__Brahma_vimohan_lila: even Balarama was bewildered by Krsna's
expanding into so many cows & cowherd boys.
Killing Dhenukasura
Dhenukasura symbolizes all the anarthas, bad desires which attack the devotee. Balarama as the original spiritual master destroys the demon of impure desires in the heart.
__Subduing Kaliya:
Balarama stood there smiling __ He knew how powerful His younger brother was and that there was no cause for anxiety when Krsna was fighting with an ordinary serpent of the material world. He did not, therefore, personally take any part in their concern.
__ Killing Pralambasura
The demon was undoubtedly very strong and powerful, but he was carrying Balarama, who is compared with a mountain; therefore he began to feel the burden, and thus he assumed his real form...Immediately Balarama struck the head of the demon with His strong fist, just as the king of the heavenly planets strikes a mountain with his thunderbolt. Being stricken by the fist of Balarama, the demon fell down dead, just like a snake with a smashed head, and blood poured from his mouth...All the boys then rushed to the spot..."well done, well done", they said.
Lifting Govardhana Hill
Balarama was laughing at Krsna, who was shaking, looking at the breasts of the gopis...
Balarama takes Varuni_rasa, calls Yamuna
As Nityananda, Balarama cut a canal to every door with HK mantra Once Balarama, intoxicated with Varuni_rasa, began to address the ants: "O you kings of the ants! Why are you hiding yourselves in these holes?".."O King Indra! You plaything of Saci! Why are you laughing? I am now prepared to smash the whole universe, and I know that Krsna will not be angry with Me.".."My dear Krsna, tell Me immediately why the whole world is trembling, and why the moon has become elongated! And O you members of the Yadu dynasty, why are you laughing at Me? Please give me back My liquors made of honey from the kadamba flower!" Srila Rupa Gosvami prays that Lord Balarama will be pleased with all of us while He is thus talking just like an intoxicated person.
Revatidevi was married to Balarama in Dwaraka.
Raivata was advised by Lord Brahma that his daughter should marry Balarama. At the end of Dwapara yuga Raivata came to Vraja and approached Lord Balaram to accept his daughter's hand in marriage. Balaram accepted his proposal and then placing his plow on the shoulders of Revati devi pulled her down to the correct size to match his height and then the wedding was duly performed in opulence with much pomp and splendor.
__Balarama kills Rukmi
__Balarama kills Romaharsana
__Arjuna kidnaps Subhadra (Balarama passified by Krsna)
__Balarama approves of the fight between Bhima and Durydhana
Balarama's relation to Krsna:
ekale isvara krsna, ara saba bhrtya
Lord Balarama is serving Krsna in every respect. He serves Krsna in all the different mellows, right from dasya all the way up to conjugal. To insure Krsna's pleasure and satisfaction, Balarama expands Himself as Vraja Mandala; He even expands Himself as all of Krsna's personal possessions--His throne, crown, bed, ornaments, clothes--every single material thing that Krsna uses is an expansion of Lord Balarama.
Parental love within the scope of fraternal affection:
Baladeva addressed Subala: "My dear friend, please inform Krsna not to go to Kaliya's lake today. Today is His birthday, and so I wish to go along with Mother Yasoda to bathe Him. Tell Him He should not leave the house today."
Sometimes Balarama is counted as one of the well_wishing vayasyas __ friends who are older and feel protective of Krsna: Once Mandalibhadra was wielding a big sword, Balarama was holding His big plow, others were agitated and making threatening motions because they had mistaken a thundercloud over Govardhana Hill to be Aristasura coming to threaten Krsna.
Description of Balarama:
"Let me take shelter of the lotus feet of Balarama, whose beauty is enhanced by the earrings touching His cheeks. His face is decorated with tilaka made from kasturi (musk), and His broad chest is decorated with a garland of gunja (small conchshells). His complexion is as white as an autumn cloud, He wears garments of blue color, and His voice is very grave. His arms are very long, touching His thighs, and He has shown His great strength by killing the Pralamba demon. Let me take shelter of this chivalrous Balarama."
(from Laghu_Bhagavatamrta:)
text 62: "Above Brahmaloka is the home of Prsnigarbha. Where Krsna stays , there Balarama stays also. His amsa_avatara resides in Patalaloka, carries always a palm_tree flag, is eloquent, is decorated with a forest garland, carries a plow, club, and sword, is decorated with blue garments, and always wears on His head a jewel¬picture of ananta Sesa.
Balarama, the original spiritual master:
Nayam atma bala hinena labhya: One cannot attain the Supreme or any form of self_realization without being sufficiently favored by Balarama. Bala does not mean physical strength..One must have the spiritual strength which is infused by Balarama or Sankarsana. To attain the lotus feet of Radha-Krsna one must approach the lotus feet of Balarama or Nityananda. Neither Lord Balarama nor Lord Nityananda accept any offenses.
Deities
--Dauji: Black Deity of Balarama in Vrndavan, installed 5000 years ago by Vajranath, the great great grandson of Krsna from Dwaraka. He is black because He was absorbed in thoughts of Krsna. Revati stands behind Him, because in Vrndavan Radharani is queen. Everyone else takes second position.
--Revati-Balaram in Jaipur
--Jagannatha/Subhadra/Balarama:
Story of cat jumping on Deity of Balarama
Prayers
namaste tu halagrama!
namaste musalayudha!
namaste revati-kanta!
namaste bhakta-vatsala!
namaste balinam srestha!
namaste dharanidhara!
pralasvare! namaste tu
ehi mam krsna-purvaja!
Miscellaneous
Krsna-sandarbha 3/9 (SB 10.15.35) "As the thread in a cloth spreads both lengthwise and breadthwise, so everything we see within this cosmic manifestation is directly and indirectly existing in Lord Balarama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is not very wonderful for Him."
Balarama's position remembered by Yamunadevi when she made offense to Him. "...now I have come to my senses and I remember that You hold all the planetary systems on Your head merely by Your partial expansion as Sesa. You are the sustainer of the whole universe."
(SB10.65.28)
...but Balarama first expands as Laksmana, who then expands as Ananta_sesa. (confirmed by Indra in Skanda Purana)
Krsna and Balarama are equal in all respects.
The beauty of Jagannatha and Baladeva (from Bhakti Ratnakara)
The beauty of Nilacala Candra was so splendid that it could beat the beauty of a dark cloud about to pour water.á His lotus eyes stretched out of his ears and the beauty of his face could defeat millions of moons.á How wonderful were his hands, how beautiful and glamorous he appeared in ornaments and bright dress.á Long flower garlands that touched the ground hung from his beautiful_j _ neck and a crown of flowers bedecked his attractive head.- Srinivasa then looked at the deity of Sri Baladeva who was so beautiful that he defeated the brillance of the moon or the kinda flower or a sandal mountain.á What a beautiful face, even a glance from his eyes could make a kandarpa senseless.á His hands, eyebrows, large eyes and forehead were so beautiful that it would be impossible for anyone to describe them properly.á Srinivasa felt thrilled to see the beauty of Sri Baladeva and became mesmerised by the beauty of Sri Subhadra.á He also observed the illustrious Sudarshana Chakra with full satisfaction.á The main priest of Prabhu Jagannatha gave Srinivasa prasadam and a flower garland use by the Lord. Srinivas avisited all the temples within the compound of the main temple and at last he and his guide returned to the house of Sri Gopinatha where he again paid his obeisances to the lotus feet of the deity.-
The story of a Govardhan brahmin who was a devotee of Baladev
Once a rich devotee of Baladev named Artha Vanta lived in Govardhan. His mind was always absorbed in thoughts of Balarama. He believed that one day Baladeva would kindly grant him darshan for that reason he wandered around Govardhan. The brahmin was fortunate and one day he got the information that Baladev would grant him darshan. Just to fulfil this devotee's desire Nityananda Nandaram went to Govardhan on pilgrimage. Nityananda remained in a lonely place but whoever saw him was moved by his celestial body.
saktyavesa Avataras Krsnasandarbha 3/8: We may note in this verse that both Krsna andBalarama are described as having markings of the Supreme Personalityof Godhead on the soles of Their feet. These auspicious markings are seen only on the feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.They are never seen on the feet of saktyavesa incarnations(empowered loving entities) such as Prthu Maharaja and others.
Satvata Tantra:
Nara Rsi entered Arjuna, and therefore Arjuna is an avesa incarnation of Nara Rsi. Lord Krsna, however, is the originalSupreme Personality of Godhead Himself.
The Kumaras, Narada, Vyasa, Sukadeva, and others are sub partial(kala) incarnations. They display a part of the Lord's transcendental knowledge.
Gaya, Prthu, and Bharata are sub partial (kala) incarnations endowed with specific potencies (sakti). The incarnations of the modes of nature are headed by Brahma. The parts of these incarnations are the potency (vibhuti) incarnations.