How was Lord Balram born? Why was Balram named Sankarshan?

Shri Krishna's elder brother Balram was born on the sixth day of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada. His birth is celebrated as Balram Jayanti every year on the sixth day of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada. It is also called Hal Shashti or Hal Chhath.

How was Lord Balarama born?

When Devaki got married to Vasudev ji, Kansa became happy and started driving the chariot by placing his sister Devaki and brother-in-law Vasudev in the chariot. At that moment a voice from the sky said, “You fool! The eighth child born to the person whom you are carrying in the chariot will become the cause of your death.

When Kansa heard this, he captured his sister Devaki and his brother-in-law Vasudev and put them in prison. He killed six infants born to Devaki.

In the seventh womb of Devaki, Shri Shesh ji arrived as a part of God. When Sheshji came into the womb of Devaki, she was very happy, but she was drowned in grief due to the fear that Kansa might kill this child of mine too. When the Lord saw that his devotees were being tortured a lot by Kansa, he ordered Yogamaya, O Kalyani! You go to Vraj, there Vasudev's wife Rohini resides in Gokul. At present my part, which is called Shesh is situated in the womb form in the womb of Devaki. Take it out from Devaki's stomach and put it in Rohini's stomach. Then I will become the son of Devaki with all my parts, and you will be born from the womb of Nand's wife Yashoda. Yogamaya did the same as per the orders of Lord Vishnu. Thus, Rohini gave birth to Sheshnag Balram, the incarnation of Vishnu, on the sixth day of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada month. Due to womb transfer, he was named 'Sankarshan'. Due to being in Bhadrapada, his name was 'Balbhadra'. He was very strong; hence his name was 'Balram'.

Brotherly love of Balarama and Shri Krishna:

There was great love between Balarama and Shri Krishna. Although Shesh ji is a great devotee of Shree Krishna , in this life Balram came as the elder brother of Shri Krishna ji and always fulfilled the responsibility of elder brother with great love. Despite being the elder brother, he never avoided Shri Krishna's words throughout his life. Many times, in Mahabharata, Balram did not agree with Shri Krishna's words but even then, he never avoided Shri Krishna's words. He was always with them. He knew all Leela of Shri Krishna, hence he used to do only what Shri Krishna wanted. Shri Krishna ji is Leeladhar, he was born to establish religion. Shri Krishna ji always talked about religion through his Leela. Even during the entire war of Mahabharata, Shri Krishna ji acted according to religion. The love between Balram and Shri Krishna can also be understood through a popular story. Although many stories are popular, but this one is special because in this, Shri Krishna went against Balram's opinion and performed a Leela and even though Balram understood it, he did not get angry with Krishna, his love for Shri Krishna remained unwavering.

Balarama was the teacher of Duryodhana. It was he who taught mace art to Duryodhana. That's why he also got the name 'Duryodhana-Guru'. Balram loved Duryodhana more than all his disciples. Being dearer to him, Balarama had fixed the marriage of his sister Subhadra with Duryodhana. Subhadra was the child of Vasudev and Rohini and sister of Shri Krishna. When Shri Krishna ji came to know about this, he asked his sister Subhadra, whom do you love? Then Subhadra said – I want to marry Arjun. Then, on the suggestion of Shri Krishna, Arjun abducted Subhadra. This made Balarama and the other charioteers very angry, and they got ready to attack Arjun. Then Shri Krishna ji explained to them all about the love between Subhadra and Arjun and the story of Rukmani's abduction. Balram understood that Krishna had a major role in the abduction of Subhadra. Still, he went away a little angry, but there was not even the slightest hatred in his mind for Krishna. At the end of the Mahabharata war, when Bhima killed Duryodhana by breaking his thigh, which is against the rules of mace warfare, Balram ji became angry at Bhima and decided to kill him. Then Shri Krishna saved Bhima by describing the wrongdoings committed by Duryodhana. Hearing this, Balram understood Shri Krishna's Leela and went away from there without getting angry. Even at that time, no malice arose in his mind towards Shri Krishna. Balarama was the incarnation of Sheshnag.

Impact of Balarama Jayanti on society:

Balarama Jayanti is an example of the unique love between two brothers, Shri Krishna and Balram. We should learn from Krishna and Balarama that in Kaliyuga, the brothers roam around as enemies of each other, they should learn from the brotherly love of Krishna and Balram and should love each other so that the family remains united.

Writer: - Kuldeep Singh