Baladeva Purnima – The birthday of Lord Balram

Balram is the elder brother of Lord Krishna and Balram Purnima is considered to be His birthday. Balram Purnima falls on the full moon day of Hindu month of Bhadra and is followed by Sri Krishna’ birth on the eighth day of the same month.

Balram was son of Vasudeva and Devaki and Kamsa had imprisoned them both as one prediction said that the eighth child of Vasudeva and Devaki would be the reason of Kamsa’s death. Evil Kamsa, out of scariness, imprisoned his own sister and brother-in-law so that he could kill all the children born of the couple. Balram was the seventh child of Devaki and Vasudev; however, by divine arrangement, He was transferred from womb of Devaki to womb of Rohini, who was the other wife of Vasudeva and was residing in Vrindavan at that time. Because of this reason, one other name of Balram is Sankarshan, which means that he was transferred from one womb to another.

The Hindu scripture Srimad Bhagavatam says that Krishna is the fountain head of all incarnations and there is no other truth superior to Him. The same scripture says that Balram is the first expansion of Lord Krishna and it is from Balram that all other Vishnu incarnations appear. Thus, Balram Prabhu is also Supreme Lord and is second to none but Krishna.

Devotees observe fasting on this day and read about various pastimes of Lord Balram, who is famously called Haldhar, or the one who carries plough. He is also considered to be original Spiritual Master, and He is the one who can guide devotees on the right path so that they can meet Krishna and end their repeated cycle of birth and death. Thus devotees on this day pray for Lord Balram’s mercy.