Host:
Pranam, Gurudev. I hope you are all doing well and regularly chanting the holy name (Harinam). Welcome to the Gupta Sadhak Shyamakhyapa 2.0 YouTube channel.
Host:
We are doing a series on the 10 Avatars (Dashavatar) of Lord Narayana. You have been hearing about the various avatars one by one. Today, Gurudev will tell us a little about Narayana's eighth avatar, Lord Balarama.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, I won't be able to speak too much today, but I will tell you one thing: Balarama is Krishna's brother. He was originally conceived in Devaki's womb. His father was Vasudeva. So, he was in Devaki's womb, but Lord Narayana intentionally removed him from there and transferred him into the womb of Rohini. Alright? So, what does that mean? Krishna's mother is Devaki, while Balarama's mother is...
Host:
Rohini.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, Rohini.
Host:
His foster mother.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He was established with his foster mother.
Host:
Krishna orchestrated this trick.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes. Where Krishna is seated...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Lord Haladhar Sankarshan (Balarama) himself is there. He holds the Musala (mace), he loves the mace, and what is the other one called?
Host:
His weapons are the Langal (plough) and the Gada (mace).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
His main weapon is the plough. Well, there is a saying in our Tantra... it goes something like: "Guhye Halabhya Bijabhya Namah" (Salutations to the plough and the seed within the root chakra). The plough resides in the Guhya (the hidden root center/perineum), and from here, everything is created.
Host:
And where is this plough being driven? In our Guhya.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
What is produced from there? Seeds. Great seeds are generated from there. And you could say that Balarama was a much more fearsome avatar than the avatar of Lord Rama.
Host:
That is why his name was changed to "Bala-rama" (Rama with strength).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
King Kamsa tried very hard [to kill them]. Kamsa killed so many; he emptied Devaki's womb. He ruthlessly killed them one by one. But from there, Krishna survived, and Haladhar (Balarama) survived.
Host:
Kamsa tried very hard using a mad elephant.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, a mad, intoxicated elephant. He tried to kill him with it, but he couldn't. He couldn't kill Balarama. Balarama stood right where he was. You can also draw a parallel with Balarama in the Mahabharata war. No one else could wield his plough; he didn't allow anyone else to use it. "Hale Na Musalena Damodara"—we say this in Tantra.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But if you go back to the original place, go to the temple of Lord Jagannath. Look there: Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balarama. All three are present, and each possesses immense, terrifying power.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Once, at Kedarnath, Lord Shiva went and sat there. At that time, Krishna—Narayana—arrived. Narayana said, "Lord, I will also stay here with you." Shiva replied, "That cannot be. Two immense powers cannot operate together in the same place." Then Narayana restrained himself a bit and said, "Alright Lord, I will stay here near you. I will not accept any prayers or worship from anyone. I will neither do good for anyone, nor will I do bad." Mahadeva (Shiva) agreed to this. He agreed that Krishna/Narayana would stay with him. He also gave a blessing: "Whoever visits Kedarnath must also visit Badrinath; otherwise, their visit to Kedarnath will be in vain." That is why it was decreed that visiting Badrinath is mandatory if you visit Kedarnath, or else the spiritual significance of Kedarnath is lost.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Alright? And what can I say about his (Balarama's) Guru? He is a formidable and incredibly powerful figure. We call him Balarama. Compared to Rama's strength, Balarama's strength was much greater. That is why instead of just "Rama," he is called "Bala-rama." Right? His power is terrifying. You should also know that Balarama was a supreme Vaishnava. And where did he reside? He resided in Vrindavan.
Host:
Now, these aren't made-up stories; these are the original facts.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, as far as I know. And the main thing about him is that he is called "Haladhar"—the one who wields the plough. He holds the Hala (plough) and the Musala (mace). In Tantric sadhana, we chant: "Hale Musalene Damodara Hasi Guru Kuru Svaha." We recite this in Tantric practices to invoke and worship him. To tell you the truth, he is a major deity in the Hindu religion, and he was a supreme Vaishnava. Kamsa couldn't kill him. He sent many demons, including a mad elephant, but even that couldn't kill Balarama. That is the real truth.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is much more to say, but it is not possible for me to say it all right now. Just remember this: Haladhar, the one who wields the plough... "Guhye Halabhya Bijabhya Namah" — meaning, Balarama is protecting our Vayu-dvara (the root/anal portal). He is ploughing the land there and extracting new seeds. New seeds are emerging from the Payu-dvara (perineum). Many people don't know this. We say the Payu-dvara is a portal where the plough is driven, and from that ploughing, the seed originates. Wherever the plough operates, seeds are created. Remember this, it is the main point. I don't want to say anything more about this right now.
Host:
You have all been listening to Gurudev speak about Narayana's eighth avatar, Lord Balarama.
Host:
The information Gurudev has given is absolutely correct. For your information, let me just add that Gurudev has been very ill, and he is currently on the path to recovery.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That is why I wanted to interact with you all a bit, which is why this video is coming out after a long time.
Host:
We will make longer videos later, yes.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But not this long...
Host:
No, I don't want Gurudev to talk too much right now, as it would be very problematic if his breathing difficulties flare up again.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I can only speak a little bit, which is why I kept it short.
Host:
So, Vasudeva's...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Vasudeva's son. Narayana intentionally transferred him to Rohini's womb. That is why his foster mother is Rohini. But actually, she was married [to Vasudeva]. Rohini is a very powerful Nakshatra (constellation/star).
Host:
We do a lot of [Tantric/Astrological] work using this Rohini Nakshatra.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Hmm. Or we can do.
Host:
Or we do. Rohini is the eighth Nakshatra, a formidable Nakshatra. We can do a lot of spiritual work using the Rohini Nakshatra. Yes. So, you all heard it.
Host:
Let me tell you one more thing: you will find the link to this Dashavatar series in the description box. As you know, you can now find Gurudev on Facebook and Instagram as well; you can see him and listen to his episodes there. Before we end, as I always do, I will request Gurudev to chant a little Harinam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, Harinam Sankirtan should be performed.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Harer Nama Kevalam, Harer Namai Kevalam, Harer Nama Kevalam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Kalau Nastyeva, Kalau Nastyeva, Kalau Nastyeva...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
(He is dancing now)
Host:
So, we will end here for today. Everyone, stay healthy, stay well, and chant Harinam regularly.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Hmm.
Host:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, Baba. Pranam. Pranam, Baba, Pranam.