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Home , Akrura, Balabhadra, Balarama, Jagannath, Pralamba, Samba (Krishna's son)

Orissa Review July - 2010

Lord

Er. Nirakar Mahalik

Balarama, the elder brother of Srikrishna was one The story is told in Purana of the ten incarnations of Vishnu as stated by differently that Lord Vishnu being satisfied with Bhagabat and other . His father was the prayer of Devatas gave two bunch of hairs- of Yadu clan but he had two mothers black and white separately for the benefit of and Rohini. Maharaja , the king humanity, these two bunch of hairs converted to of killed all the six issues of his sister Balaram and Srikrishna. Devaki as one of her sons was to kill him according to some forecast. So Goddess Balaram took birth after two months from Yogamaya had made some miracle for her seventh Rohini on the day of Shravan (Gahma issue, while Devaki was pregnant. Yogamaya Purnima). He was called Sankarshan as he was extracted the foetus from the uterus of Devaki extracted from others womb. He killed while she was eight months pregnant and placed Pralambasur by fisticuffs in the forest of Bhandir. it inside the uterus of Rohini. Rohini at that time He threw the Dhenukasur whose body was just hide herself in 's house at Gopa for the fear like an ass from the top of stiff mountain and killed of demon Kamsa. him. It is said in Bhagabat that - King Raibat established the kingdom of 'Devakya Jathare Garbham Shesakhyam Kususthali now called Dwaraka, which is twenty Dham Mamakam, four kilometers from Pore-bandar inside the sea. Tata Sanni Krushya Rohinya Udare King Raibat gave his daughter Rebati in marriage Sanniveshaya' with Balarama. he had two sons from Rebati named Nishastha and Ulluka. He had also three Bhagavat [10-3-(8-10)] brothers and one sister from Rohini. It is said in Bhagavat that the supreme Afterwards when attacked Mathura power called which is the abode of Lord again and again, King Raibat donated Dwaraka (Vishnu), took birth as a human in the to his son-in-law Balarama and Srikrishna. form of foetus in the uterus of Devaki. Goddess Yogamaya had extracted the foetus of Balarama Balarama once sealed the mouth of River and placed it safely inside the uterus of Rohini, as she disobeyed him. He dug a channel the second wife of Basudeva. So after birth his with his plough to divert Yamuna. She begged name was Sankarsana. appology to Balarama for her disobedience. Hala

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(Plough) and Musala (Club) were his main Rahilu Se Purusottam attributes. So he was called Hali. He pardoned Nitya Rahasa Arupam. Yamuna for her sin. Ye Rupa In other occasion , son of Atanti Swarupa. Srikrishna abducted Lakhyana, daughter of Ambe Shree Dehi from her Svayambar Sabha but he Subhadra Hoi Tahi. was kept in custody by , Balaram Gupata Anga Heu knowing this, gave a proposal for the marriage of Atma Sangate Pau. Samba with Lakhyana. But Kauravas dishonoured Balaram. Angry Balaram threatened Poet Yosobanta Das, one of the great poet of Kauravas, to throw their capital in holy Ganges Panchasakha group told that Balaram, Srikrishna by his plough. When he sacked his capital and Subhadra took rebirth in Purusottam Dham Duryodhan agreed the proposal and gave his as Balabhadra, Jagannath and Subhadra who are daughter Lakhyana in marriage with Samba. the Supreme Gods Rudra, Vishnu and Brahma respectively. The Puran states that - one of the greatest poets of Matsyah kurmo schah medieval in his magnum opus Sarala Narasingho atha vamanah Mahabharat in 15th Century AD already told the Ramo Ramascha Krishnascha Buddhah same thing- Cha Te Dasha 11. 15/25 (Soura Purana) " Krishna Subhadra Je E Tini (fish), (Turtle), Baraha (Boar), Shree Purusottame Bije Hali Brahma" Narasingha (man-lion), Vaman (Dwarf-man), Here the poet told that Balaram, Krishna Rama, Balaram, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki are and Subhadra in Dwapar Yuga are the same ten incarnation of Vishnu. Here Balaram is Balabhadra, Jagannath and Subhadra in regarded as Vishnu. Now he is regarded as Debata Nilachala. or God. So Balarama became (Bala+) Accordingly to Prof. Prabhat Mukherjee Baladeva. Krishna and Balarama are regarded in about 5th Century AD Sankarsana and as Hari and Hara. Here Balarama is regarded as Vasudeva came to be known as Jagannath and Lord Siva. Siva is helping Vishnu in every Balabhadra in Orissa. Brihat of incarnation like Rama-Laxman in Tretaya Yuga. Varahmihira (6th Century AD) enjoins to place In Dwapar Yuga as Krishna-Balarama and in Ekanamsa (Subhadra) between Baladev and Yuga they are Jagannath and Balabhadra. Krishna.A stone image of Balarama which is now Balarama like Laxamana is a , traveller, silent preserved in Lucknow Provincial Museum is a worker, renunsation, truthful and Sanyasi as sure proof that his worship was prevalent in described in different Puranas. Poet Yosabanta Mathura during the Sunga period (2nd century Das said in Prema Brahma Gita that BC). The deity holds club (Masala) in his right Rudra-Siva is Balarama or Balabhadra :- hand and Hala (plough) in the left. "Tahum Se Ambhe Tini Bhrata The earliest representation so far available Yekante Bhaliu Gupata. of the holy triad of Krishna-Vasudeva, Subhadra

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(Ekanamsa) and Sankarsana-Balarama is group in his Dandi Ramayan so magnificently as preserved in Karachi Musuem, Pakistan (2nd follows:- century AD). Here two armed Balarama is in "Jaya Tu Srihari He Ashesa Janadhari standing pose and holding a colossal plough (hala) Rohini Nandana Tu Hotakari in his right hand. The association of Krishna Rebati Kanta Kalandi Jale Tora Khela Balaram in a few Jain reliefs from Mathura Nilabastra Paridhan Ayudha To Hala Museum and datable to the Kusan Period is also Taladvaja Aharam Sirare Kundali worthy take note of. Jara Pade lule Sarba Devanka Mauli Sudha Spatikaku Jini Tora Deha Besides image of Balarama, some Swarna Kundali Sobhita Tora Beni carvings representing some incidents of the life of Mastaket to Sapta Phani Kirita Mukuta Balarama and Krishna of 2nd or 3rd Century AD Mukuta Kadamba To Shohai Kantha Tata" have been discovered from Tumain (ancient Balabhadra you are Vishnu, Rohini Nandan, Tumbavana) in Gwalior State. It is found in an Pralamba Killer, Rabatikanta, playing inside the ancient building decorated with beautiful and water of Kalindi, wearing blue dress your attributs interesting carvings. is Hala (plough), riding Taladhvaja chariot having headdresses. All devatas worship you. You are Worship of Balarama are found from the as white as spatika and wearing gold ornaments archaeological exeavation at Paharpur in Rajsahi in the ears with snake hood in head and jewel district of . One gray sand-stone nakelace on your neck. sculpture of Balarama, one of the ten incarnation of Vishnu depicted here with plough (Hala) under is called Shreekhetra or Purusottama snake-hood is found there. Fight of Balarama and khetra. Here Lord is Uttama-Purusa having his Krushna with Chanura and Mustika the two wife Laxmi, elder brother Balarama and sister wrestlers of Kansa is depicted clearly. Another Subhadra. Shree is Laxmi, when Shree left Shree khetra only Khetra (field) remains there. Poet scene of dragging of Kamsa by Balarama and Balaram Das describes in his 'Laxmi Puran' that Krishna is found there which shows that the when Laxmi left Uttam-Purusa, the Purusha Balarama worship spread to . became helpless and lived without food. Once From Imadpur in Muzaffarpur district of elder brother Balarama showed his admistrative one bronze image of Balarama having four power over his family members. One day a hands with snakehood along with Ekanamsa and untouchable lady Sriyachandaluni worshipped Krishna were recovered which now adorns the Mahalaxmi deeply. Laxmi went to Sriya's house. King Edward VII Gallery of the British Musuem Elder brother Balaram knew the fact and directed showing the Balarama worship in Bihar. Lord Jagannath to drive Mahalaxmi from Shree- Mandir as she went to a chandal house. Mahalaxmi In Orissa Balarama, Ekanamsa and left Shree-Mandir, as a result of which Balaram Krishna are worshipped at Ananta-Vasudeva and Jagannath could not get Mahaprasad (rice) at Bhubaneswar and Balaram as they were anti-Laxmi (Laxmidrohi). Nobody (Balabhadra), Subhadra and Jagannath are gave them food. At last they went to Sriya worshipped in Jagannath temple at Puri. Chandaluni's house where Mahalaxmi dwelt. They Swarupa of Lord Balarama is described were satisfied with usual food and Podapitha by Balaram Das, one of the poets of Panchasakha (cake) distributed by Shreeya. Mahalaxmhi came

89 Orissa Review July - 2010 back to Sri Mandir again. Here in the Laxmipuran described as in Naga (snake)form. When Jadu the greatness of Laxmi has been established. She clan was destroyed one Anantanaga emerged from is the cause of all happiness of Lord Balaram and Balaram's mouth and entered into the ocean. Jagannath. Jagannath Dash, one of the greatest poet of Orissa Balarama, the elder brother of Srikrishna describes like this:- went on tour to different places during Mahabharat War without supporting either "Jadaba Bala Nasta Dekhi ! Rama Bujhile Beni Akhi Kauravas or . Pravachana Yagnya was Takhyane Nija Yogabale ! Ananta Paseele Patale" organised by Lomaharshana in the holy forest Now Balarama, Subhadra and Krishna of Naimishyaranya. Rishi Lomaharshana sat on are worshipped in Shree Mandir at Purusottama the sacred chair of . Balarama after returing Khetra Puri as Lord Balbhadra, Subhadra and from his travel trip entered Naimishyaranya during Lord Jagannath. the course of Pravachana programme. All and devotees paid respect to Balaram except Rishi Famous Indian Poet Bidyakar Mishra Lomaharshana. Balarama threw his sharpen Bajapayee in his "Nityachar Paddhati' prays crusha to Lomaharshana and he was killed. All Lord :- Rishis denounced Balaram and ultimately he went "Namasteastu Jagannath Namasteastu Pitamaha, to different holy places to have bath in holy water Narayan Namasteastu Balabhadra Namostute" to wave out his sin. References : It is said that Balaram went to Jajapur to 1. Bharatiya Paramparare Devatrayi by dip in water of Baitarani river to wave out his sin. Khagendra Nath Mallik 'Jhankar'-55th year 4th He fought with demon Kandarasur at issue. and killed him on Kartika Akadasi day. Balaram 2. The History of Medieval in married his daughter Tulasi on Dwadasi day of Orissa by Prof. Pravat Mukhree, Orissa District Kartika. Every year Tulasi Bibaha festival is Gazetteers, Puri. performed on this day at Baladev Jew temple at 3. V.S. Agrawala-A Short Guide Book to Mathura Kendrapara. Museum. 4. (a)Interrelation between Vaisnavism and According to Srimad Bhagabat, it is said Saktism in Orissa by Mahesh Prasad Dash, that while was returning from Gopa to the OHRJ-Vol-XI-1963. Mathura along with Balaram and Krishna, he saw (b) Krishna and Baladev as attendant figures the miracle inside Kalandi water during his bath. in early Indian Sculpture-R.C.Agrawala-IHQ- He saw Srikrishna sat on the lap of Ananta XXXVIII March 1962. (Balaram), the bright white Sheshanag having 5. Vaisnavism-Kunja Goswami-IHQ- thousand snake-hoods:- Vol.-XXX 6. Vaisnavism-Kunja Govinda Goswami IHQ- "Sahasra Shirasam Debam Sahasra Phana Maulinam Vol.-XXXI Nilambar Bisashvetam Shrungeih Shvetamiba Sthitam Tasvota sange Ghanashyama Pitakausheya vasasam 7. The cult of Ekanamsa-Shyam Chand Mukherji- Purusham Chaturbhujam Shantam Padma- IHQ.Vol.-XXXV Putrarunekshyanam." 8. Kendrapara Zilla Itihas-Pratap Kumar Roy. (Bhagabat-10-40-(45-46)

Here Balarama is called 'Ananta' or Er. Nirakar Mahalik lives at N1/82, IRC Village, 'Shesa Naga'. Balaram while on death bed, was Bhubaneswar-15.

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