Balarāma's Body - The Transcendental Form of the First Expansion
For the conditioned soul, the physical body is a source of suffering, disease, and illusion. However, the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the very source of unlimited spiritual bliss. Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings provide a profound theological and aesthetic understanding of Lord Balarāma's body, revealing it to be the perfect, omnipotent, and all-attractive manifestation of the Lord's internal spiritual potency.
Principle of Vilāsaa Expansions
The Supreme Lord expands Himself into innumerable forms to enjoy various transcendental pastimes. Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that Lord Balarāma is the first of these expansions. As a vilāsa-vigraha, Balarāma possesses the exact same supreme qualities as Kṛṣṇa; the only observable difference is the beautiful, contrasting color of His skin.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body.
- The Balarama feature is as good as Krsna Himself, the only difference being that the bodily hue of Krsna is dark and that of Balarama is fair.
- The expansions of the Lord (Krsna) who manifest such bodily differences (such as Sri Balarama's bodily color and Sri Narayana's four hands) are known as vilasa-vigrahas.
- These two are one and the same identity. They differ only in form. Lord Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krsna, and He assists in Lord Krsna's transcendental pastimes.
Spiritual Nature of the Lord's Form
Materialists often make the grave mistake of assuming that when God descends, He accepts a body made of physical elements like blood, bone, and flesh. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that this is a foolish misconception. The bodies of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are entirely composed of sac-cid-ānanda (eternity, knowledge, and bliss), a fact fully realized by great devotees like Akrūra.
- Akrura continued, "Less intelligent men misunderstand Your transcendental form to be made of material energy. But that concept is not at all applicable to You (Krsna and Balarama). You are all-spiritual, and there is no difference between You and Your body."
- The Kurus said, "Our dear Lord (Balarama), You have appeared on this earth in Your transcendental body just for the maintenance of the cosmic situation. You are above all anger, envy and enmity."
- Their bodily effulgence the brothers were dissipating all the darkness of the world, as if They were mountains of sapphire and silver. Without hesitating, Akrura immediately got down from his chariot and fell flat, just like a rod, before Krsna and Balarama.
- Both (Krsna and Balarama) were the shelter of the goddess of fortune. They had well-constructed bodies, beautiful hands and pleasing faces, and They were as strong as elephants.
Luminous Beauty in Vṛndāvana
The supreme attractiveness of the Lord's body was the center of all joyful activities in Vṛndāvana. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals how the natural effulgence of Balarāma's fair skin, combined with His glittering ornaments, was so brilliant that the brothers used it as a light source to navigate the dark storage rooms when stealing butter from the elder gopīs.
- While the elderly gopis go about their household affairs, Krsna and Balarama sometimes go into a dark room, brightening the place with the valuable jewels and ornaments on Their bodies and taking advantage of this light by stealing - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.8.30.
- If we (the elder gopis) keep our stock of yogurt, butter and milk in a solitary dark place, your Krsna and Balarama find it in the darkness by the glaring effulgence of the ornaments and jewels on Their bodies.
- The elder gopis said, "If They (Krsna and Balarama) cannot reach (the butter and yogurt), They make a hole in the pot. We think therefore that you’d better take all the jeweled ornaments from the bodies of your children."
- They (Krsna and Balarama) were actually smeared with saffron and sandalwood pulp by Their mothers, but due to crawling over muddy clay, They would simultaneously smear Their bodies with clay.
The Invincible Strength of Balarāma
Though adorned with jewels, sandalwood pulp, and lotus garlands, Lord Balarāma's body possesses the terrifying strength required to annihilate the universe. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that during His battles with powerful demons, Balarāma's transcendental body easily absorbed the impact of massive boulders and uprooted trees without sustaining a single scratch.
- Since the gorilla was very angry, he took another tree in his hands and struck Lord Balarama's body. Again Lord Balarama tore the tree to pieces, and the fighting continued.
- When no more trees were available, Dvivida took help from the hills and threw large pieces of stone, like rainfall, upon the body of Balarama. Lord Balarama, in a great sporting mood, began to smash those big pieces of stone into mere pebbles.
- All the demigods in the heavenly planets became very satisfied and showered flowers on the transcendental body of Balarama, and they also offered their blessings and congratulations for His having killed the great demon Pralambasura.
- Sometimes Krsna would take a palm fan and fan the body of Balarama, causing a pleasing breeze to relieve Him of His fatigue. Other boys would sometimes dance or sing while Balarama took rest, and sometimes they would wrestle amongst themselves or jump.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the body of Lord Balarāma is a magnificent display of the Supreme Lord's absolute nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches us that Balarāma's transcendental form is not a product of material nature, but the original spiritual expansion of Kṛṣṇa Himself. Whether He is charming the residents of Vṛndāvana with His radiant, silvery beauty, or casually shattering the weapons of fearsome demons, Lord Balarāma's body is the ultimate shelter for all pure devotees and the eternal object of their loving meditation.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Balarama's Body. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.