Balarāma's Visits - The Transcendental Pilgrimage of the Lord
The journey of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always filled with purpose and spiritual benefit for the entire world. Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings provide a detailed itinerary of Lord Balarāma's visits across India, revealing how the Lord used the pretext of a pilgrimage to remain neutral during the Great War while simultaneously purifying the world's most sacred sites. By following the footsteps of Balarāma, a practitioner learns the proper mood and method for visiting holy places of pilgrimage.
The Pretext and North Indian Visits
As the Battle of Kurukṣetra approached, Lord Balarāma chose to distance Himself from the impending violence. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that He left Dvārakā on the plea of a pilgrimage, beginning His visits along the banks of the sacred Sarasvatī River. During this phase, He visited numerous North Indian tīrthas, sanctifying them by His presence and His adherence to Vedic standards.
- Finding it impossible, and not wishing to take an active part on behalf of either party, He (Balarama) left Dvaraka on the plea of visiting various holy places of pilgrimage.
- Accompanied by some respectable brahmanas, Balarama decided to visit different places on the bank of the river Sarasvati. He gradually visited such places as Prthudaka, Bindusara, Tritakupa, Sudarsana-tirtha, Visala-tirtha, Brahma-tirtha and Cakra-tirtha.
- Balarama also visited all the holy places on the bank of the Sarasvati River running toward the east. He visited all the principal holy places on the bank of the Yamuna and on the bank of the Ganges. Thus He came to the holy place known as Naimisaranya.
- When Lord Balarama visited that place (Naimisaranya) there was a great sacrifice being performed by a great assembly of transcendentalists. Such meetings were planned to last thousands of years.
Traveling Through Southern India
Lord Balarāma's pilgrimage took Him deep into the Draviḍa country of southern India. Śrīla Prabhupāda traces His journey through modern-day Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. From visiting the sources of rivers to honoring the great temples of Viṣṇu and Śiva, Lord Balarāma's visits in the south demonstrate His role as the maintainer of all spiritual traditions.
- Lord Balarama turned toward southern India and visited the banks of the river Godavari. After taking His bath in the river Godavari and performing the necessary ritualistic ceremonies, He gradually visited the other rivers the Vena, Pampa and Bhimarathi.
- The most important place of pilgrimage in southern India, or Dravida, is Venkatacala, commonly known as Balaji. After visiting this place Lord Balarama proceeded toward Visnukanci, and from there He proceeded on the bank of the Kaveri.
- After visiting this place (Kerala), He (Balarama) came to Gokarna-tirtha, where Siva is constantly worshiped. He then visited the temple of Aryadevi, which is completely surrounded by water. From that island He went on to a place known as Surparaka.
- After visiting Rangaksetra, Lord Balarama gradually proceeded toward Madurai, commonly known as the Mathura of southern India.
Following the Vedic Standard
A key theme in Lord Balarāma's visits is His perfect adherence to scriptural injunctions. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that even though Balarāma is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He visited the great sage Agastya and offered Him humble obeisances. By performing ceremonies and bathing according to regulations, Balarāma taught that pilgrimage is a serious spiritual discipline.
- It is clear from the description of Srimad-Bhagavatam that when Lord Balarama was visiting the different places of pilgrimage He properly followed the Vedic system.
- The great sage Agastya used to live there, and Lord Balarama visited him and offered His respects by bowing down before him.
- He (Lord Balarama) also took His bath there and performed the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. He continued His travels and gradually came to the pilgrimage city of Gaya, where there is a celebrated Visnu temple.
- After visiting this place, He (Balarama) gradually proceeded toward Setubandha, the place where Lord Ramacandra constructed the stone bridge from India to Lanka (Ceylon).
Visits to Holy Oceans and Historical Sites
Lord Balarāma also visited the coastal regions, traveling to Kanyakumārī and the shores of the Indian Ocean. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes the significance of these visits, particularly the Lord's stop at Kurukṣetra. While His pilgrimage was meant to avoid the war, His earlier visit to Kurukṣetra with His family became the divine prototype for the Ratha-yātrā festival celebrated around the world today.
- From there (Kanyakumari), Balarama went on to visit the pilgrimage city known as Phalguna-tirtha, which is on the shore of the Indian Ocean, or the Southern Ocean.
- Phalguna-tirtha is celebrated because Lord Visnu in His incarnation of Ananta is lying there. From Phalguna-tirtha, Lord Balarama went on to visit another pilgrimage spot, known as Pancapsarasa.
- When Krsna was staying on this planet He, His brother Balarama, and His sister Subhadra visited Kuruksetra. That ceremony is observed as Ratha-yatra.
- After visiting Karttikeya, Lord Balarama gradually proceeded to Sailapura, a pilgrimage city in the province of Maharastra. Sailapura is one of the biggest districts in Maharastra province.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the various visits of Lord Balarāma demonstrate the Supreme Lord's deep compassion for the conditioned souls who seek purification through pilgrimage. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully illustrates that through these travels, Lord Balarāma not only maintained His neutrality during a time of cosmic upheaval but also permanently infused the holy places of India with His divine energy. By remembering the visits of Balarāma and following the Vedic standard He established, a devotee can transform a physical journey into a profound spiritual awakening, ultimately reaching the supreme destination beyond the material world.
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