Baladeva Tatva

I first offer countless prostrated obeisances at the lotus feet of our most worshipable Guru Padapadma Om Vishnu Pada Paramahamsa Swami Astottara-Sata Sri Srimad Bhakti Vedanta Vamana Goswami Maharaj and Om Vishnu Pada Paramahamsa Swami Astottara-Sata Sri Srimad Bhakti Vedanta Sriila Narayana Goswami Maharaj, Sri Trivikrama Goswami Maharaj, Saparikara Prabhupada Saraswati Thakur, and all Guruvarga. Thereafter, I offer due respects, heartfelt greetings, and salutations to Sri Nrsimha Maharaj, other Vaishnavas, and Vaishnavis seated on the dais!

Today is the auspicious appearance day of Rohini-Nandana Baladev Prabhu. On this occasion, we will offer Pushpanjali at His lotus feet and perform Gunavali kirtan.

How many great-grandsons of Krishna, named Vrajnabh, do we see? There is Baladev Prabhu in Dauji, Madhuban Bihari Baladev Prabhu in Madhuban, Pralambhari Baladev Prabhu in Bhandirvan, Dhenukari Baladev Prabhu in Talvan, and in Bhadravan, His name is Balabhadra! These five deities of Baladev Prabhu were revealed by whom? Vrajnabh!

How many deities did he establish?

There are two deities in Mathura: Dirgha Vishnu and Keshava Dev.

(Devotee: We don’t call Dirgha Vishnu a deity.)
(Gurudev): You may not say so, but the author of this scripture, Gargacharya, says so. Is Vishnu not a deity? These two deities in Mathura are Adi Keshav, “Keshav Dev”, and “Dirgha Vishnu”. And what else? Gokulesh in Gokul, Baladev in Dauji, Govinda Dev in Vrindavan, and Haridev in Govardhan! And how many goddesses? “Mathura Devi” in Mathura, Sanketa Devi in Sanketa, Vrinda Devi in Kamyavan, Katyayani Devi in Chirghat. How did Baladev Prabhu come into this world? He appeared from the womb of Mother Rohini. Vasudeva Maharaj had many wives. When Kamsa learned through a celestial voice that the eighth child of Devaki would kill him, he imprisoned them. Then, to serve both of them, Mother Rohini would come to the jail daily to serve and then leave. Now, in the month of Sawan, Mother Rohini became pregnant, and Mother Devaki also became pregnant. I am presenting the thoughts of Jiva Goswami Pada. What happened then? Gradually, the pregnancy developed. Vasudeva Maharaj thought, “Alas! This Kamsa is wicked. He will kill the child born from Devaki, but what if he kills the child of Rohini too? Therefore, it is not appropriate to keep Rohini here. I should send Rohini elsewhere; my lineage will be protected!”

What did he do? He sent her to his dearest friend, Nanda Bhavan, making her ride a mare. She started living there. Then Krishna ordered Yogamaya,

Devi, you go to Vraj. What do you have to do? Attract the embryo from Devaki’s womb and place it in Rohini’s womb. Whatever Krishna ordered, that was done. The embryo from Devaki’s womb was attracted and placed in Rohini’s womb. And a rumor spread here that Devaki had a miscarriage. Now Devaki became pregnant again in the month of Magh. Mother Yashoda also became pregnant. Then in the month of Bhadra, Baladev Prabhu appeared from Mother Rohini’s womb, Krishna appeared from Devaki’s womb, and Krishna was born from Mother Yashoda’s womb. Baladev was born from Mother Rohini’s womb, and Krishna was born from Mother Yashoda’s womb, this is the Naravat Lila.

Baladev Prabhu was born on this very date, just 8 days before Krishna’s birth. And when Krishna came into Devaki’s womb, it was an appearance, not a birth. Just as it is said for Lord Rama, “Bhay Prakat Kripala Din Dayala Kaushalya Hitkari” (The merciful, kind, benefactor of Kaushalya appeared). Similarly, Krishna also appeared and later became a child. And the longer a child stays in the mother’s womb, the stronger he will be. Their immune system is very strong. Baladev Prabhu was in Mother Rohini’s womb for 14 months, which is why he is so powerful. And in one scripture, it is said that if a child is born in 8 months, he is very fortunate. Krishna was born from Mother Yashoda’s womb in 8 months, which is why he is very fortunate. Now, this is the birth secret of Baladev Prabhu.

Similarly, in Kaliyuga, Baladev came in two forms. One as Mahaprabhu’s elder brother Vishwarup, and another as Harai Pandit’s son, Nityananda Prabhu. Just as Devakinandan entered Rohininandan’s womb and became one, here Vishwarup Prabhu, when Nityananda Prabhu was to appear, he disappeared and after taking sannyas, he entered into him. However, Lakshman appears as one, not in two forms. Then in Treta Yuga, Lakshman had to perform such services that were heart-rending. The duty of a servant is very, very, very difficult. One has to sacrifice one’s own desires to fulfill the desires of the master. I have a good experience of this. So, Lakshman had to do such things, like sending Sita to exile, not making Sita undergo the fire test. Lakshman could not tolerate it. Now he vowed that when he comes again, he will come as an elder brother, not a younger brother. He will give orders and Lord Rama will have to obey. This is what Kaviraj Goswami showed in Chaitanya Charitamrita.

Now they grew up, both playing together, walking on their knees together, their naming ceremony together. Baladev Prabhu, being the presiding deity of strength, is named Bal, and he will delight everyone and give joy, so he is Rama. There are many interpretations of His names, which you will find, so I’m not going into that. The naming ceremony happened together, now they gradually started growing. There, we see in Sri Garga Samhita, the Baladev Chhat festival is shown. In many places in Vraj, Baladev Chhat is observed. Chhat means the sixth day after the full moon. This Baladev Chhat is the 6th tithi after Janmashtami and Amavasya. In Vraj and Mathura, Baladev Chhat is widely observed. Here, our commentators have shown that Baladev is our elder brother, so if it’s after Janmashtami, Baladev Prabhu would be younger than Krishna, and if not, he is about 1 year older. If he is 1 year older, how could Krishna and Balarama’s naming ceremony be together? There is also a time for naming ceremonies.

30 days, 90 days, a year, there are some rules like that. Or six months. Within 30 days, 15 days, and six months, the naming ceremony took place, both at six months. If the naming ceremony took place together, how is this possible if Baladev is a year older and this one is younger? They cannot be elder brothers. Then it shows them crawling on their knees together. Was Baladev Prabhu, being the presiding deity of strength, lying helpless? He couldn’t even crawl on his knees for a year. That’s why they are saying this Baladev Chhatt is not right. But we cannot disapprove of Baladev Chhatt. Why? Where is this description? In Garga Samhita. If we say that we don’t value Garga Samhita, I agree, we don’t. But everyone is obliged to give it value! Gargacharya performed Krishna’s naming ceremony, so how can you just accept the name but not Gargacharya? The second thing is that the verse we recite daily, “Agyana timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya chakshurunmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah,” is composed by Gargacharya. Two contradictions are visible. How can they be reconciled? So, it is said that in some kalpa, Baladev Prabhu is eight days older. And in some kalpa, he appeared on the sixth day. This is how reconciliation happens. As Gurudev used to say, “When the gopas went to play at Brahmanda Ghat, all the gopas, including Baladev Prabhu, teased Krishna, ‘Mother Yashoda is fair! Where did you fall from, being dark-skinned?'”

Krishna went crying to Mother. Mother asked, “What happened?” Mother took Krishna in her lap, and Krishna said, “I am not your son.”

Mother Yashoda said, “No! Who said that?”

“The gopas are saying it. They kept me in a pit under a tamarind tree at Brahmanda Ghat. Baba saw me and picked me up. He gave me to you in your lap.”

“Who said that?”

Krishna said, “Everyone! Dauji is saying it.”

Mother Yashoda said, “I swear by my Lord Vishnu that you are my son, you are my son, you are my son! You were born from my womb.”

So Mother Yashoda’s complexion and Krishna’s complexion are the same. But then Gargacharya shows that Baladev Prabhu is saying, “Nanda Baba is fair! Yashoda is fair, where did you come from, being dark-skinned?”

So people will say there’s something in the family, this shouldn’t happen. This means that in this kalpa, Mother Yashoda is fair. In this kalpa, Krishna has such a bodily luster, all these things must be learned to be reconciled. And Gargacharya is not an ordinary person. That’s why this was shown.

Now, Krishna and Balarama are crawling on their knees together. What do they do? If a sword was kept somewhere, both brothers would grab it, and then Mother Rohini and Mother Yashoda would quickly snatch it away. Children learn by observing. One day they saw that there was a well outside Nanda Baba’s house for drawing water. The well’s wall was a bit high so that rainwater wouldn’t go into it. It had a pulley. The children saw that people would come daily, tie a rope, and drop it. They would draw water. Then they would pour it into something. Both brothers came out, small. They were naked, only Mother had put on a yellow jhigni and a girdle around their waist, and golden bangles with carvings. Both brothers were very tough, so they came and dropped the bucket with the rope tied to it. They couldn’t pull it up like that, they dropped it. And it fell with a loud noise. How happy both brothers were. Now the bucket was full of water. Now, when they were pulling it, as long as the bucket was full of water inside, it felt light. When they started lifting it, the bucket felt a bit heavy. Now what did both brothers do? They pressed their stomachs against the well wall and pulled. Both brothers couldn’t pull it together. The bucket lifted a little more. Now both brothers leaned over the well. Their feet lifted off the ground. Now what did they do? The child’s strength is crying. Now they started crying, “Mother, Mother, Mother.” Their mother started looking for them, “Where did both children go? And they don’t know that if they let go of the bucket rope, they will be saved.” They don’t even know this. See, even being the Supreme Lord, they did this. This is Naravat Lila. Dev Lila is more delightful than Naravat Lila. They came, rescued them, and took them away. Mother said, “You rascals, should I beat you?” Now they started crying.

Now one day, what did they do? Nanda Baba had thorns and creepers outside his house. A red flower bloomed on the creeper. Both brothers’ eyes fell on it. Both came out. What did Krishna do? Krishna said, “Dau! You pick up this thorn. I will go through like this.”

Krishna went in. And picked the flower. Baladev Prabhu was watching, and the thorn slipped from his hand and Krishna got stuck. Now what to do? He couldn’t get out. Now the brother started screaming, “Mother, Mother.”

Then Mother came and said, “You were just with us, how did you go away so quickly?” And then she picked him up and took him away. Now what to do? Mother Rohini said, “Yashoda, I can’t manage these children. I will do all the housework. I will do all the kitchen work too. You take care of the children. I can’t do it. Baladev was very calm and simple before, but now he has become twice as naughty as Krishna. He will do whatever Krishna says. He doesn’t listen to anyone.”

That’s why Mother Yashoda always took care of the children, and Mother Rohini did all the housework. Were there servants in the house or not? There were servants, but in a wealthy house, they would not let servants cook, because doing the cooking oneself maintains affection.

Now, cow grazing began. Baladev Prabhu did not go for cow grazing for 13 days. And Krishna also did not go for 13 days. Where is the proof? Rupa Goswami gave the proof. When the Kaliya Daman Lila happened, Baladev Prabhu told Subal, “Heh Subal, look, today is my birth नक्षत्र (nakshatra). I have been restrained by the mothers. I cannot go for cow grazing today. You go and tell Mukunda not to go towards Kaliya, even by mistake.” But when Subal arrived, Krishna had already jumped into Kaliya’s area before he could reach. If Subal had reached on time, the Kaliya Daman Lila would not have happened. In this, Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur showed in his commentary that: every person’s birth nakshatra comes once a month. On the day of Baladev’s birth nakshatra, Baladev Prabhu cannot go for cow grazing. How many months in a year? 12 months, so he cannot go for 12 days. And Janmashtami is Krishna’s Ashtami tithi, so how many times will Krishna’s birth nakshatra come in a year? Krishna’s birth nakshatra is 12 times. Krishna will also not go 12 times. On the real birth nakshatra, like today is Baladev Purnima, both brothers cannot go today. On Janmashtami and the real birth nakshatra, both brothers cannot go. Therefore, on their respective birth nakshatras, for 12 days, and on the real birth nakshatra for one day, the two brothers cannot go for cow grazing for 13-13 days. They cannot go together for two days – on Janmashtami and on Baladev Purnima. And where else is it described? When the Brahma Vimohan Lila happened, it was also Baladev Prabhu’s birth nakshatra. Therefore, not the birth date, but the birth nakshatra, so he could not go that day either, and if Baladev Prabhu had gone then, the Brahma Vimohan Lila would not have happened.

It is said that a Lord performs five to seven tasks with one action. What five to seven tasks did Brahma perform? See, when Krishna does not go for cow grazing in the morning, even the experienced cowherds do not get a single drop of milk. The calves go to the cows and butt their heads against their udders, but still, no milk is available. When a calf drinks milk, it presses its head between the cow’s legs. Why? “Leave the milk, Mother, leave the milk, my stomach is not full.” The calf does this, those who live in the city, they will only see cows on TV. So even the calf of the cow is not getting milk. Coming from the cowshed, they said, “Hey Vraj Raja Nandana! Today a great misfortune happened in the cowshed.”

“What happened?”

“The great cowherds are tired. Not a single drop of milk was found. No milk was obtained from the calf either. You will not get milk until you go.” When Krishna went, all the cows started giving milk. In their minds, the cows thought, “Aho! If Krishna were my calf, he would put his mouth to my udders and drink milk.”

Krishna said, “So be it!”

Then what happened? When Krishna returned from cow grazing, all the motherly gopis would take Krishna on their lap, kiss Him, caress Him, and then let Him go. Finally, Mother Yashoda would caress and kiss Krishna and take Him away. All the resident gopis, Mother Yashoda’s friends, would say, “Oh, look how lucky Yashoda is! She gives us the opportunity to show affection first, but in the end, she is the one who takes Him in her lap! She feeds Him milk and puts Him to sleep. If Krishna were my son, my life would be meaningful.”

Now what happened? All the young Kishoris of Vraj began to think, “If Krishna were my husband, my life would be meaningful.”

That’s why they observed the Katyayani Vrat. Now what did they do? Krishna granted boons to all three. They started thinking in their minds how to fulfill them. Yogamaya Devi said, “Lord, I am here, what purpose will I serve?”

Then what did Yogamaya do? She bewildered Brahma’s intelligence. Gurudev (Srila Narayana Goswami Maharaj) used to say, “Brahmaji is our guru. He has no fault in this. If Brahmaji has a fault, then he is our guru, and from this guru, we will remain in all faults. We will never achieve perfection. We will be guilty. But Brahma has no fault. By Krishna’s desire, Yogamaya Devi distorted his intelligence and dragged him to steal the calves and cowherd boys.”

In fact, he could not steal the real calves and cowherd boys. When Brahma came, what did Yogamaya do? She hid the real calves and real cowherd boys. Mahamaya had created a set of clones and Brahma stole those. About a year later, Baladev Prabhu saw one day that the great cowherds were unable to herd the cows. It is a rule of the world that even humans love small children more; when that child grows up, they don’t get as much love. Small children get a lot of love, and the mother keeps them close all the time. This is also a rule for cows. They will love small calves more. What happened that day? Krishna and the cowherd boys were grazing cows here, and they were making the big calves run. The cowherds were trying hard to stop the cows, but the cows were not stopping. They were coming to the small calves and the big calves. The gopas got angry and were about to beat them. All the cows came running and were suckling their large calves and licking them. When those gopas came, their anger turned to water. The gopas started hugging and loving their children. Baladeva Prabhu, seeing this, said, “What is this? They were coming filled with anger. They did not beat the cows or their children, and the cows are feeding milk to the older calves and licking them. What is this? Is this Brahma’s maya? No! Brahma’s maya cannot bewilder me! Is it Mahamaya? Mahamaya also cannot bewilder me. Shiva’s maya also cannot, and no other deity’s maya can bewilder me. Only the maya of my brother Krishna can bewilder me.” Baladev Prabhu smiled and said to Krishna, “Kanha! Are you not satisfied with Mother Yashoda’s milk? You became the son of so many mothers. Still, your stomach is not full. You became the calf of so many cows.”

Krishna smiled upon hearing this. And at the time of Brahma Vimohana Lila, Gargacharya announced, “This time is most auspicious. All of you get your sons and daughters married.”

Krishna had become all the cowherd boys. So, the girls who got married to cowherd boys, who were they? Krishna Himself. So He became their husband. One task was completed. What is the second? Krishna Himself became the cowherd boys. He became the son of so many mothers. Now, when Krishna returned from cow grazing, mothers also did not caress Krishna. They took their own children, who had become Krishna. The third is – He became the calves of the cows. The cows also no longer longed for Krishna. They gave milk to their own calves. In the Brahma Mohana Lila, Baladev did not go for cow grazing because it was His birth tithi (lunar day). Thus, it was completed.

Now let’s talk about cow grazing. Now, both brothers went for cow grazing. While grazing cows, what do they do? What do Gurudev or saints do for us? They remove anarthas (unwanted things) and avyata (impurities). When they went for cow grazing, the cowherd boys said, “Krishna! Krishna! Baladev! Demon! Demon! Demon!”

“Where is he?”

“Can’t see him! He’s in the stomach. He’s the demon of hunger. We’re hungry. And there’s a strong smell of tala from the forest of Talvan over there. Let’s go eat tala!”

“Go tell Dau.”

Dau said, “Let’s go!”

They went to that Tala forest, which was a protected area of Kamsa. Ordinary people could not go there. Similarly, in Treta Yuga, it was Sugriva’s forest. No one had the right to enter there. When they found Sita Ji, Hanuman and others came and destroyed it. They ate good fruits and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. When the news came, Sugriva got angry and went to punish Hanuman Ji. His wife said, “No, look, four groups went to search for Sita. Three groups returned after days. That means they did some good positive work and came back. That’s why they are expressing joy. Go. Meet them yourself. Ask them gently what happened?”

It was Kansa’s forest, and Baladev Prabhu is bossy. What did He do? Being the deity of strength, He violently shook the tala trees. Plums were falling down. And Dhenukasura heard this, so he came running, making a donkey-like sound. He came and kicked Baladev with his hind legs, but Baladev dodged it. Then Dhenukasura came to attack again, Baladev grabbed his leg, swung him around, and threw him against a tala tree. Dhenuka Asura’s life left him right there. And one after another, many tala trees fell down. Seeing this, all of Dhenuka Asura’s friends came. He killed everyone one by one. And the whole area was filled with a river of blood. The cowherd boys did not eat tala that day. Later, they used to eat the fruits. What is this? Dhenukasura was a symbol of ignorance. Therefore, our ignorance is removed by the guru, just as Dhenukasura was killed by Baladev Prabhu. What do saints do? By the sharp axe of their words, the guru removes our anarthas. If we want to do bhajan, we must avoid bad company. Who is superior between a snake and a wicked person? A snake is superior to a wicked person. Why? A wicked person bites all the time, and a snake bites only sometimes. Not all the time. And a wicked person bites at every step. And the Takshaka, that is, the snake, where is its poison? In its teeth. A snake cannot inject venom without teeth; it will not work. A bee’s or scorpion’s poison is in its tail; if the tail does not touch, the poison will not be injected. But a wicked person is entirely poisonous. Therefore, stay away from wicked people. The company of wicked people is poison. Lord’s son Naraka Asura became an opponent of the Lord just because of association. And what else? Ravana is the son of a sage. Due to wicked company, he fought with the Lord. Look at Bana Asura! What is he? He is the son of Bali Maharaj, who is such an advanced devotee. Due to wicked company, he fought with the Lord like that. Therefore, always stay away from wicked people. This was shown by Baladev Prabhu through Dhenuka Sura.