Balarama Jayanti--Appearance Day of Lord Balarama

Today in Texas is Balarama Jayanti, the appearance day of Lord Balarama, the expansion of Lord Krishna. He is wonderfully described as follows in the Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila, Chapter 5, Texts 4-11:

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. These two are one and the same identity. They differ only in form. Lord Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna's transcendental pastimes. That original Lord Krishna appeared in Navadvipa as Lord Caitanya, and Balarama appeared with Him as Lord Nityananda. May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarshan, Sesa Naga and the Vishnu's who lie on the Karana Ocean, Garbha Ocean and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the portions of His plenary portions. Lord Balarama is the original Sankarshan. He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He Himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms. He executes the orders of Lord Krishna in the work of creation, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Krishna in various ways. In all the forms He tastes the transcendental bliss of serving Krishna. That same Balarama is Lord Nityananda, the companion of Lord Gaurasundara."

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Lord Balarama Chastises Yamuna DeviLord Balarama Chastises Yamuna Devi

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version:

Question: Why Do We Sell Prasadam?

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

This is regarding the Thought for the Day posted on 09-Aug-2014 describing the importance of Krishna's prasadam. I want to ask: Why are we selling Krishna's prasadam in the various centers of ISKCON, the Hare Krishna Movement? Is it justified to give a tag price to prasadam and make a business out of it? Shouldn't we be giving it away freely?

Gaurav C.

Editor's note: Prasadam is vegetarian foods which have been offered to Lord Krishna with love and devotion. Partaking of prasadam bestows great spiritual benefit. One makes spiritual advancement merely by eating.

Answer: They Are Not Volunteering to Contribute

It is our duty to profusely distribute prasadam to all people. And it is their duty to contribute liberally to support the distribution of prasadam. Because the people are not doing their duty of contributing therefore we are sometimes selling prasadam so that in spite of the miserliness of the people the prasadam distribution can go on nicely for the consciousness elevation of the human society.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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