The big brother is finally here!

And with the appearance of Sri Balarama, Sri Krishna Janmashtami is now just around the corner. The whole of Sri Mayapur Dham seems to be preparing its heart to welcome the Lord of our hearts!

These days in Mayapur are filled with one beautiful festival after another. Jhulan Yatra, Balarama Purnima, and the preparations for Sri Krishna Janmashtami all come together, creating an atmosphere filled with kirtan, darshan, seva and remembrance of the Lord.

On Balarama Purnima, devotees and visitors have the opportunity to experience beautiful darshans and programs accompanied by ecstatic kirtan and abhishek of the Lord at Rajapur, as well as at Sri Sri Radha Madhava's temple.

Sri Krishna Balarama are beautifully decorated for the occasion, and there is also a particularly sweet tradition that brings great joy to the devotees.

Many children, visitors and residents get the opportunity to offer Rakhi to the wrists of the Lords, a simple and heartfelt offering of love and prayer from the devotee to the Lord. And sometimes, the pujaris return the Rakhi after it has been offered.

To receive it back from the Lord's wrist feels incredibly special, like receiving a little piece of the Lord's mercy to carry home.

And while the festive mood continues, Jhulan Yatra reaches its joyful conclusion with one of the most playful and beloved moments of the celebration, the breaking of the pot!

A pot filled with different varieties of sweets is hung up, and devotees will take turns trying to break it. One person tries a few strikes, and if the pot remains intact, the next person gets their chance. With every attempt, the excitement grows!

All the while, ecstatic kirtan fills the atmosphere, transforming this simple, playful pastime into a deeply auspicious celebration. Laughter, kirtan, anticipation and the joy of serving the Lord come together as everyone eagerly waits for the pot to finally break.

And when it does, the sweetness of the celebration spreads through the whole gathering.

In this beautiful way, the final day of Jhulan Yatra comes to a close, and around 8–9 PM, the Deities are brought back to the temple, concluding another unforgettable evening in Sri Mayapur Dham.

But behind all these celebrations is a deeper remembrance:
 

Who is Lord Balarama?

Lord Balarama is an expansion of Lord Krishna glorified in the Vedic Puranas and Itihasas. Krishna is the spiritually manifest Supreme Person, whose internal spiritual energy is the all-pervading Brahman. He is glorified as Narayana, Vasudeva, Mahavishnu, Hari, Vishnu, and many other names. Shiva and Brahma are said to be His qualitative expansions. He is the Supreme Lord, the Lord of all universes. Everything emanates from Him and dissolves back in Him. He is the cause of creation, maintenance, and dissolution of everything and every living entity.

His chatur-vyuha (four-handed) expansions are Vasudeva, Sankarshana; Pradyumna; and Aniruddha. The Bhagavatam (12.11.21) says,

vasudevah Sankarsanah pradyumnah purushah svayam aniruddha iti brahman murtir vyuho abhidhiyate

“O brahmana (saint) Shaunaka, the quadruple primary expansions of Pususha

(Supreme Soul Narayana or Krshna) are Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha.”

The primary expansion of Krishna is said to Sankarsana, the infinite snake Ananta on which the Lord rests. Sankarsana beholds all universes and maintains everything united.

The descended form of Sankarsana is Lord Balarama, who appeared as the elder brother of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna and Sankarsana are originally one, although they appear different to the external eye. Lord Balarama assists Lord Krishna in His glorious transcendental lilas.

Lord Balarama appeared as the younger brother of Lord Ramachandra by the end of treta-yuga and He appeared as Nityananda Prabhu to distribute the mercy of Krishna to people with Caitanya Mahaprabhu five hundred years ago.

Once when the four Kumaras visited the bottom of the universe, they found Lord Sankarsana as a gigantic snake with numerous hoods. The Lord was seen in deep meditation beholding innumerable universes on His head.

Since He holds everything together, He is called Sankarsana, the binder who unites all.

Lord Shiva always meditates Lord Sankarsana as the Bhagavatam (5.17.16) tells,

bhavani-nathaih stri-ganarbuda-sahasrair-avarudhyamano bhagavatash-chatur-murter-maha-purushasya turiyam tamarsim murtim prakrtim-atmanah Sankarsana-samjnam- atma samadhi-rupena sannidhapyaitad-abhigrnan bhava upadhavati

“Lord Shiva, served by tens of billions of maid servants of Goddess Bhavani

(in Ilavrta-varsha), deeply meditates, chants and worships one of the four expansions of the Supreme Lord known as Sankarsana in the predominant quality of ignorance.”

At the time of destruction, it is said that the fire emanating from the mouth of Sankarsana would dissolve all the worldly manifestations at the end of the universe. Therefore, Sankarsana helps Lord Krshna and causes the union and destruction of all universal manifestations.

That Sankarsana appeared as Balarama and any devotee who seeks Krishna should first seek His mercy to be blessed with proper bhakti (devotion) to Lord Krishna.
 

From Balarama Purnima to Janmashtami

And so, as we celebrate the appearance of Lord Balarama, our hearts are naturally drawn toward the auspicious appearance of His beloved younger brother, Sri Krishna.

Janmashtami is just around the corner!

What better way to welcome the Lord of our hearts than by offering something for His pleasure?

This year in Sri Mayapur Dham, there are many beautiful opportunities to serve and contribute towards the Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebrations. From Abhishek Seva, including Panchamrita, milk, honey, fruit juice and flower abhishek, to offerings for the Lord, Mahaprasad and devotee services, there are many ways to make a heartfelt offering.

Whether you are here in Mayapur or serving from wherever you are, your seva can become part of welcoming Sri Krishna on His appearance day.

Lord Balarama has appeared. Sri Krishna Janmashtami is coming.

Let us take this auspicious opportunity to prepare our hearts and offer our service for the pleasure of the Lord.
 

Explore the Janmashtami Seva opportunities and find a way to serve:

Pancha Pushpa Water — ₹15,001

Fruit Juices — ₹12,501

Chandan — ₹10,001

Honey — ₹10,001

Sugar Candy — ₹8,001

Ghee — ₹7,001

Yogurt — ₹6,001

Milk — ₹5,001

Green Coconut — ₹4,001

Rose Water — ₹3,001

Abhishek Clothes — ₹2,501

For seva inquiries: WhatsApp 9593400192

Sri Krishna Janmashtami Seva: https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Sri-Krishna-Janmastami

Hare Krishna!