Happy Balaram Purnima!Join us at ISKCON Brampton tonight starting at 7pm to celebrate the Appearance Day of Lord Balaram.
Lord Balaram is the first personal expansion of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All other incarnations expand from Him. In Lord Krishna's pastimes, He plays as Krishna's older brother. Together Krishna and Balarama enact many pastimes as cowherd boys in the land of Vrindavana. Lord Balarama carries a plow and club and is known for His great strength. (See Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, Chapter 5.)
"IF ONE HAS NO CONNECTION WITH BALARAM, EVENTHOUGH ONE
IS A VERY LEARNED SCHOLAR OR HAS TAKEN BIRTH IN A VERY RESPECTABLE FAMILY, THESE
ASSETS WILL NOT HELP HIM." [Srila Prabhupada]
Of the three names repeated in the Maha Mantra: HARE KRSNA
and RAMA RAMA refers to Lord Balram. So the Maha Mantra repeated and chanted
over two thousand times daily by devotees of the Lord illustrates how important
He is in Vaisnava tradition.
Lord Balaram is the Original Guru; therefore his guidance is
not only helpful but essential to achieving Krishna Consciousness.
Following a spiritual lifestyle requires strength to hold
off the advances of world intent on selling one products and life choices that
may not be required in order to aspire to the goals of spiritual bliss.
Lord Balaram is central to Srila Prabhupada's advice on
making spiritual advancement as he outlines in Srimad Bhagavatam: "The
sword of knowledge, is given by Krishna, and one who serves the Guru and Krishna
in order to hold the sword of Krishna’s instructions. Balram provides one with
strength thus one should accept the sword of knowledge from Krishna and be
strong with the mercy of Balram. We are therefore worshipping Krishna Balaram
in Vrndavana."
Not to worry, you need not to travel as far as India if the
pressures of this material world are feeling heavy on your shoulders these
days. Join us at ISKCON Brampton to worship and glorify the most glorious Lord
Sri Balram and experience eternal joy and bliss.
Let’s not forget to
wear blue or white to honor the lord. We hope to see you there
EVENING PROGRAM INCLUDES:
7:00pm - Guru Puja
7:15pm - Gaura Aarti
7:55pm - Nrsinghadeva prayer
8:00pm - Discourse on the pastimes of Lord Balaram by His
Grace Acarya Thakur das
8.45pm - SRI BALARAM MAHA FEAST
SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS TOWARDS THIS EVENT:
“If anything is donated to a devotee of Lord Vishnu in the
name of Lord Visnu, the charity is said to be pure and the only solution for
liberation." [Hari Bhakti Vilasa,11.64,Skanda Purana]
If you would like to HELP the temple for the festival, you
may sponsor or donate for the following segments:
MAHA PUSPABHISEKA (Flowers etc.) ....$51, SRI BALRAM MAHA
FEAST (Food, Drinks etc.)....$251
Please contact Krsna Smaran devi dasi at kavitabalram@yahoo.com for more
information.
