Image: Sri Balarama, Sri Krishna, and Srimati Radharani (Credits: Bing)
This article is being written in the month of August-September 2024 in the context of three major festivals of Vaishnavism which are slated to happen thence. These festivals are Sri Balaram Jayanti, Sri Krishna Janmashtami and Sri Radhastami. The first festival celebrates the appearance of Sri Balaram, the elder brother of Sri Krishna; the second festival celebrates the appearance of Sri Krishna Himself and the third festival celebrates the appearance of Sri Krishna’s divine consort Srimati Radharani.
This is verily the Vaishnava Trinity: Sri Balram, Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani. It is noteworthy that the festival of Sri Balaram Jayanti (which will be celebrated on Monday, August 19, 2024) can also be called Sri Balaram Purnima as there will be a full moon on this day marked by a blue ‘supermoon’ where the moon will appear in the sky with a blueish white hue as an ode to Sri Balaram Himself who dresses Himself in blue and white clothes. It is quite a unique astronomical event and occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to the Earth at the same time that the moon is full (Purnima). Tomorrow also happens to be the auspicious date of Raksha Bandhan, when Hindu brothers and sisters celebrate and honour their relationship for life, with sweets, the auspicious Rakhee and exchange of gifts.
Image: Blue supermoon (Credits: Original Botanica)
Sri Balaram is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself and is Sri Krishna’s first expansion. He is Sri Krishna’s unique brother and is also known as the Adi Guru as he is the spiritual head of the Guru Tattva. Amongst Gurus, Sri Balaram is supreme and represents the special category of Gurus. In the Vaishnava tradition, a Guru is considered to be of utmost importance for providing guidance in spiritual life. Sri Balaram is the one who engages all the cowherd friends of Lord Krishna in the latter’s service and also represents the Dham or place where Sri Krishna’s pastimes unfold as well as the paraphernalia or anything required in His service. As such, it can be seen that Sri Balaram is of significant importance in Vaishnavism.
Image: Sri Sri Krishna Balarama (Credits: ISKCON)
The next festival is Sri Krishna Janmashtami (on Monday, August 26th 2024) itself marked by festivities in all Iskcon centers around the world, from 6pm to midnight when the Lord’s abhishek is carried out to the devotees’ mirth. It celebrates the appearance day of Lord Sri Krishna Himself into this material world which happens once in a day of Brahma or every 4,320,000 earthly years. Lord Krishna’s myriad Vishnu incarnations happen at scheduled times throughout the age of this universe but Lord Sri Krishna’s appearance is a very unique event. Mahaprasadam is distributed in all ISKCON centers on this special day and there are many cultural events and shows such as dramas, musical performances, lectures and so on which go on. A person derives special spiritual merit by observing Sri Krishna Janmashtami if he or she attends kirtan, chants His glories, read about Him or observes a fast on this day.
Image: Sri Krishna (Credits: ISKCON)
Following that is the festival of the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna’s divine consort, Srimati Radharani. Srimati Radharani is Sri Krishna Himself but represents His internal potency or that potency which enlivens all Sri Krishna’s pastimes and devotees. Lord Krishna’s pastimes, words and names have a very special quality in that they are all-blissful and this attribute is one of Srimati Radharani’s blessings. She is the Hladini shakti or divine pleasure potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and as such is very dear to Lord Krishna. Anybody who worships Srimati Radharani achieves love of Godhead or Krishna-prema, life’s ultimate goal according to Vaishnavism. Radharani’s appearance, this year, will fall on the 11th of September 2024 and it will be celebrated in all ISKCON centers in divine grandeur.
Image: Sri Sri Radha Golokananda (Credits: ISKCON Phoenix, Mauritius)
Hence, this month and the coming month is a unique opportunity to earn the divine blessings of the holy Vaishnava Trinity: Sri Balaram, Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani. I invite you to begin your spiritual journey by chanting the holy names of Lord Krishna, as follows: -
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
By KLP (August, 18 2024)
The Guru: His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The author: Krishna Leela Prakash
Σχόλια