God Is Lord Balarāma - The First Expansion of Kṛṣṇa
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Supreme Personality of Godhead expands Himself to enjoy transcendental pastimes and manage the cosmic creation. His very first, immediate expansion is Lord Balarāma, who is equal to Lord Kṛṣṇa in all supreme potencies and acts as the source of all spiritual strength.
The First Expansion of Kṛṣṇa
According to Vedic literature, Lord Balarāma is the direct and immediate expansion of the original Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that although They appear with different complexions and roles, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma are entirely equal in supremacy.
- Baladeva is the immediate expansion of Krsna. He also engages in the service of Krsna, and certainly the ordinary living entities are serving. Everyone is created, constitutionally, for serving Krsna.
- Sri Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is equal in supremacy to the Supreme Godhead, yet wherever Krsna appears, Sri Baladeva appears as His brother, sometimes elder and sometimes younger.
- All manifestations, in both the material and spiritual worlds, are demonstrations of the different potencies of Lord Krsna. The Personality of Godhead Baladeva is His immediate personal expansion, and Bhima, Arjuna, etc., are His personal associates.
- Balarama, who has the same original form as Krsna, is Himself a cowherd boy in Vrndavana, and He also considers Himself a member of the ksatriya race in Dvaraka. Thus His color and dress are different, and He is called a pastime form of Krsna.
The Source of All Incarnations
From Lord Balarāma, the innumerable forms of Godhead expand. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that Lord Balarāma expands into the original Saṅkarṣaṇa, who then produces all the viṣṇu-tattvas and puruṣa-avatāras responsible for the material creation.
- Balarama, the first expansion of Krsna, expands Himself in five forms: (1) Maha-sankarsana, (2) Karanodakasayi, (3) Garbhodakasayi, (4) Ksirodakasayi, and (5) Sesa.
- Lord Sankarsana is Lord Balarama. Being the predominator of the creative energy, He creates both the material and the spiritual world.
- From Baladeva is Sankarsana, from Sankarsana is Narayana, from Narayana there is the second Sankarsana, and from this Sankarsana the Visnu purusa-avataras.
- There (in the spiritual sky) the personal feature of Balarama called Maha-sankarsana is the shelter of the spiritual energy. He is the primary cause, the cause of all causes.
The Meaning of Spiritual Strength
The name "Bala" translates to strength. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that Lord Balarāma provides the supreme spiritual strength necessary for conditioned souls to overcome material illusion and advance in pure devotional service.
- Bala means this Balarama, the spiritual strength. The spiritual realization can be achieved by the grace of Lord Balarama.
- Because Sankarsana appears in order to increase love of Krsna, He is known as Baladeva. One may take auspicious strength from Him to become a devotee of the Lord, and therefore He is also known as Balabhadra.
- Balarama is Nityananda. Vrajendra-nandana yei, saci-suta haila sei, balarama ha-ila nitai. This bala - Balarama - comes with Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and both of Them are so merciful that in this age of Kali one may very easily take shelter of Their lotus feet.
- If one has no connection with Nitai, Balarama, then even though one is a very learned scholar or jnani or has taken birth in a very respectable family, these assets will not help him.
The Protector of Devotees
As the supreme well-wisher, Lord Balarāma is always ready to defend the Lord's pure devotees. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that as the Śeṣa incarnation, Lord Balarāma actively protects the faithful from the attacks of envious and demoniac persons.
- Balarama is the protector of the devotees of the Lord.
- Lord Balarama is the Sesa incarnation, and therefore He can save us from angry serpents or envious persons, who are always ready to attack.
- Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who hears and chants about Him is purified. Because He is always the well-wisher of all living entities, He has descended with all His paraphernalia to purify the entire world and lessen its burden.
- Are Ugrasena, whose son was the mischievous Kamsa, and his younger brother still living? Are Hrdika and his son Krtavarma happy? Are Akrura, Jayanta, Gada, Sarana and Satrujit all happy? How is Balarama, the Personality of Godhead and the protector of devotees?
His Extraordinary Pastimes and Power
When Lord Balarāma descends, He displays incredible physical prowess to annihilate demons and reestablish religious principles. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes how Balarāma effortlessly defeated massive demons and even commanded the great river Yamunā with His plow.
- As soon as He (Balarama) saw the demon, Lord Balarama prepared to attack him. He first considered how He could smash the great demon to pieces. Lord Balarama then called for His plow and club, and they immediately appeared before Him.
- Balarama immediately struck the demon's (Pralambasura's) head with His strong fist, and the demon fell down dead as if he were a snake whose head had been smashed.
- Balarama said to Yamuna, "You wretched river! You didn't care for My order. Now I shall teach you a lesson! You didn't come to Me voluntarily. Now with the help of My plow I shall force you to come. I shall divide you into hundreds of scattered streams."
- Since the argument (about Samba's release) was not settled, Balarama showed His power in such a way that all of Hastinapura trembled and would have been vanquished as if by a great earthquake.
Identical with Lord Rāma
Because the Supreme Lord's incarnations are all completely spiritual and absolute, there is no difference between them. Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that Lord Balarāma and Lord Rāmacandra are the same Supreme Personality, and chanting Their names yields the same perfect result.
- If someone says that the Rama in Hare Rama is Lord Ramacandra and someone else says that the Rama in Hare Rama is Sri Balarama, both are correct because there is no difference between Sri Balarama and Lord Rama.
- If someone calls Lord Ramacandra by the vibration Hare Rama, O Lord Ramacandra! he is quite right. Similarly, if one says that Hare Rama means, O Sri Balarama! he is also right. Those who are aware of the visnu-tattva do not fight over all these details.
- Garga Muni said: This child, the son of Rohini, will give all happiness to His relatives and friends by His transcendental qualities. Therefore He will be known as Rama - SB 10.8.12.
- However powerful the reactions of one's sins, they will immediately be vanquished if one chants the name of Hari, Krsna, Balarama or Narayana.
Conclusion
To properly understand the Absolute Truth, one must seek the grace of Lord Balarāma. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that as the first expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma is the original source of all spiritual strength, the protector of the devotees, and the supreme well-wisher of all living entities. By constantly remembering His transcendental pastimes and chanting His holy name, the conditioned soul is immediately purified and elevated to the platform of pure devotional service.
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