Stories from Vedas and Upanishads have mesmerized us over the years. People have heard and read about tales of Lord Krishna’s Rasayatra. But many, especially the younger generation, are not aware that Lord Balaram also held Rasayatra. Like Lord Krishna, Lord Balaram’s Rasayatra is known as Sri Balaram Rasayatra.
Lord Balaram is the elder brother of Lord Krishna and the son of Vasudev and Rohini. Lord Krishna’s Raslila, performed in autumn and spring, is known to his devotees worldwide. Lord Balaram also performed Rasayatra at this time. This year Sri Balarama Rasayatra will be held on April 16.
Sri Balaram’s Rasayatra
Lord Balaram went to Vrindavan to console Sri Nanda, Yashoda, and others. During this time, Balaram also performed the rasa dance. The “gopis” were getting anxious and frayed in the absence of Lord Krishna; during that time, Balaram stayed in Vrindavan to amuse Gopis. He stayed there for two months to perform Balaram Rasayatra in the months of Chaitra and Vaisakha. As per Bhagavatam Balaram, during his stay there, he kept himself among Gopis and passed with them in the forest every night to satisfy their desire for conjugal love.
Balaram performed raslila at the Ramaghat. The spot was situated on the banks of the Yamuna River. As mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam, Balaram’s lovers would regularly visit this place without fail to get swayed by the enchanting Rohini-Nandan. Even Lord Krishna himself was in awe of Balarama’s performance.
The air would be filled with a pleasant aroma, and the flowers of the garden were in full bloom, along with the full moon adorning the blue sky. Even the heavenly guards were enamored with the beauty of Lord Balarama as he lay down under a tree. His lips were as red as the bima fruit and teeth as white as pearls. A garland of Vaijaynti adorns his strong and beautiful neck.
The Upasana in Vrindavana where Sri Balarama Rasayatra took place used to be flooded with moonlight and the intoxicating aroma of lotuses as Balarama executed his divine Raslila.
Explanation of Rasa and Tattwa
Tattwa
Tattwa is the basis of a concept or the concept itself. The almighty is said to have six characteristics, including strength, beauty, wealth, fame, knowledge, and renounce. If a devotee or a human understands this, then it is said that they know the basic “tattwa” of God.
Rasa
It is a particular trait of a higher mood that is not mundane. As per the Srimad Bhagvatam, there are five rasas – santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya. In the context of this article, if we look at the concept Raslila, it is in Madhurya rasa, whereas Dwaraka is in Aishwarya rasa.
Queen Kunti Prayed to Krishna
Kunti, the elder queen of Pandu and the mother of Pandavas, was very affectionate towards Lord Krishna, her nephew. Lady Kunti prayed to Lord Krishna to bring about calamities again and again so that the Lord’s presence could grace them.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, after the battle of Kurukshetra, Kunti, along with others, prayed to Lord Krishna for his forgiveness and salvation too. She asked for penance and suffering, as she believed that suffering is the path to attaining Lord Krishna. As the Gopis suffered in the absence of the Lord, the meeting after that brought ecstatic joy and greatness.
Addressed Balarama as Jagadisvara
Sri Balaram Rasayatra took place throughout Chaitra and Vaisakha. The gopis were so gloomy and upset about Lord Krishna not being there with them that it even made Balaram upset.
Lord Krishna was addressed as Eeshwar or God of the Jagat, hence the name Jagadisvara. Since Balarama is believed to be a part of Lord Krishna as everything else in this universe, he too was addressed by that name.
What is stated in Srimad Bhagavatam’s First Canto?
Srimad Bhagavatam is the holy book of the Hindus that states the laws, regulations, fables, and stories of Hindu mythology. The first canto of the Bhagavatam speaks of creation.
In this canto of “Creation,” sages pose six questions to Suta Goswami, who answers them throughout the Srimad Bhagavatam.
The six questions were:
- What is the absolute and ultimate good?
- What is the essence of all the scriptures?
- For what reason did the Lord take birth from Devaki?
- What are the acts performed by the Lord to create the material world?
- What were the activities of the incarnations of the Lord?
- After the Lord disappeared from this plane, where have the religious principles gone?
Conclusion
The time for Sri Balaram Rasayatra has arrived once again, and the devotees of Lord Krishna and Lord Balaram are ecstatic to celebrate the Rasayatra with complete devotion and enthusiasm. Lord Krishna and Lord Balaram were half-brothers in this life, but they were inseparable and there for each other for ages. Visit our website if you wish to know more about the Balaram Rasaytra.
