En
According to Hindu scriptures, Sheshanaga is considered a partial incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who accompanies Lord Vishnu during his various Avatar. Balarama is described as the incarnation of Sheshanaga, therefore Balarama is also considered a Shesha Avatar of Lord Vishnu.
As per Purnimanta Hindu Panchang, Balarama was born on the Shashthi Tithi of Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha and according to Amanta Hindu Panchang, Balarama was born on the Shashthi Tithi of Shravana Krishna Paksha. This Tithi is celebrated by Hindus as Balarama Jayanti. Balarama is also known as Balabhadra, Samkarshana, Halayudha and Baladau. In Braj and its nearby regions, Balarama is affectionately referred to as Dau Dada.
Balarama was born in Yaduvamsha clan. During Dwapara Yuga, a demon named Kamsa reigned over the city of Mathura. He dethroned his father Ugrasena and held him captive to become the King of Mathura. Kamsa also had a sister, whose name was Devaki. When she was old enough, Kamsa married her off to Vasudeva Yadav. According to the description found in religious texts, sage Kashyapa was born as Vasudeva due to the curse of Lord Brahma. Vasudeva is also known as Anakadundubhi.
After the wedding ceremony, when Kamsa was escorting his sister Devaki and brother-in-law Vasudeva in a chariot, a prophecy was revealed through the heavens, "O evil Kamsa! The eighth son of your sister Devaki, whom you are lovingly escorting in your chariot will kill you". After hearing the prophecy, Kamsa incarcerated Devaki and Vasudeva, and began counting the days until their eighth child to be born.
After some time, sage Narada arrived to meet Kamsa. He showed Kamsa an eight-petal flower and said, "One can count the petals of this flower from any side, hence none of its petals can be definitively eighth". Kamsa understood the essence of Narada's analogy and decided to kill all the children of Devaki and Vasudeva as soon as they are born, so that none of them could live to kill him.
In course of time, Kamsa killed six sons of Devaki as soon as they were born. When Devaki conceived the seventh time, Sheshanaga incarnated in her womb as Balarama. To protect Balarama from Kamsa, Lord Vishnu transferred the embryo of Balarama to the womb of Rohini from Devaki's by performing Samkarshana Kriya with His Yogamaya. That is why Balarama is also known as Samkarshana. Thereafter, Balarama was born to Rohini as her son.
Balarama also had a sister called Subadhra. Devi Subadhra is also known as Devi Chitra. Balarama was married to Revati, the daughter of Raivata. According to the legend, Revati was 21 hands tall, due to which Balarama shrank her form by using his plough.
Balarama was always the part of various Leelas performed by Lord Krishna. He also accompanied Lord Krishna during the search of Syamantaka Mani. Balarama was a proficient mace fighter and during the Mahabharata period, he trained Bhimasena and Duryodhana to master the skill of mace fighting.
Once, Samba, the son of Lord Krishna tried to abduct Lakshmana, the daughter of Duryodhana, with an intention to marry her. When Samba was abducting Lakshmana, the army of Kaurava incarcerated him. It was Balarama who freed Samba from the Kaurava army.
At the end of Dwapara Yuga and beginning of Kaliyuga, when Lord Krishna ascended to Goloka, Balarama too ended his Earthly pursuits and accompanied him to the Goloka. According to the legend, during his last moments on Earth, a Gigantic Serpent appeared from the mouth of Balarama and dissolved in the sea situated in the Prabhas Kshetra.
Balarama was conceived by Devaki but Lord Vishnu transferred the embryo from Devaki's womb to Rohini's by performing Samkarshana Kriya with His divine power called Yogamaya. Therefore, Vasudeva and Rohini are the parents of Balarama. Lord Krishna is His brother and Subhadra is His sister. Balarama was married to Revati and they had two sons, Nishastha and Ulmukha and a daughter Vatsala.
In religious texts, Balarama is described as having a fair complexion. He is depicted with two arms carrying a Plough and a Pestle in each arm. Sometimes, He is depicted with four arms carrying a Conch, a Discus, a plough and a pestle in His four arms.
General Mantra -
Om Haladharaya Samkarshanaya Namah।
Beeja Mantra -
Om Kleem Haladhara Balabhadraya Namah।
Balarama Gayatri Mantra -
Om Ashtrahastaya Vidmahe Pitamvaraya Dhimahi।
Tanno Balarama Prachodayat॥
The birth anniversary of Lord Balarama is celebrated as Balarama Jayanti. Lord Balarama is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Balarama Jayanti is also known as Hal Shashthi, Lalahi Chhath, Baladeva Chhath, etc.
Mantra and Names of Lord Balaram are given. These names are also known as Sahasranamavali of Lord Balarama.
The date when Lord Vishnu was incarnated as Lord Balarama is celebrated as Lord Balarama Appearance Day by ISKCON and their devotees. Balarama is the Sheshavtara of Lord Vishnu. Lord Balarama is also known as Baldeva, Balabhadra and Sankarshana, etc.
The given Shri Vishnu Dashavatara Stotram is a very melodious and effective Stotram dedicated to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Lord Vishnu is the protector of the entire universe and one of the Trimurti. It is believed that, this visible world is the dream of Lord Vishnu sleeping in Kshirsagar. On this page you can get many information related to Lord Vishnu.
The list of the ten major incarnations of Lord Vishnu and the dates of their birth anniversaries are given on this page. From this page you can also get interesting information about all the incarnations.
Lord Vishnu keeps taking various incarnations forms from for the welfare of the universe. Here is the ten main incarnations of Lord Vishnu have been described in the religious scriptures as Dashavatara. According to religious scriptures, Kalki incarnation, one of the Dashavatars, is going to appear at the end of the present Kaliyuga.
A complete list of Ekadashi dates is given here. Go through the Ekadashi fasting dates list here so that you never miss fasting on Ekadashi. Ekadashi fast is observed with great enthusiasm by the devotees of Lord Vishnu.
ISKCON devotees can get the complete list of ISKCON Ekadashi fasting dates here. This list will prove highly informative and useful to those who observe the fast of Ekadashi as per the ISKCON.
The list of Mantras used in the worship and chanting of Lord Vishnu is available on this page. Some of these Mantras are legendary and some are Vedic. Along with this, the powerful Yantra of Lord Vishnu can also be seen from this page.
