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Today is the birthday of Lord Balarama, brother of Lord Krishna. This afternoon I'm the guest speaker at the Hare Krishna Temple in Lenasia, a suburb of Johannesburg.
In sacred Vedic Theology, it is described how Lord Balarama is the first personal bodily expansion of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All other incarnations expand from Him. In Lord Krishna's earthly pastimes, He plays as Krishna's older brother.
Together Krishna and Balarama enact many pastimes as cowherd boys in the land of Vrindavana. Lord Balarama carries a plow and club and is known for His great strength. Whereas Krishna is blue, Balarama is white.
It is described:
"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."
Posted by Kurma on 9/8/06; 4:11:45 PM
from the Travel dept.
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Wednesday, August 9, 2006