Gahma Purnima: Lord Balabhadra’s Divine Birth Story

#ShravanPurnima is the birthday of Bada Thakura (the Elder Lord) Sri Balabhadra. On this day, a clay idol of him as an infant is made on the janmavedi (birth altar) at the Markandeshwar Pushkarini (sacred pond), and his birth festival is celebrated with special rituals. Sri Sudarshan is also present there at that time. #SriBalabhadra is the deity of agriculture. One of his primary weapons is the hala or plough. Perhaps for this reason, his birthday is celebrated outside the Srimandir (main temple) and with a clay idol.

The story of Sri Balabhadra’s birth is described in the Tenth Skandha (Canto) of Jagannath Das’s Odia ‘Bhagavata’, which is written in the Nabakshari meter. It says that when the earth trembled and shuddered due to the oppression of the asuras (demons), Goddess Earth (Prithvidevi), in the form of a celestial cow (Mayasurabhi), went to seek refuge with Lord Brahma. Consequently, Brahma, along with Shiva and other deities, went to the Ksheerasagara (Ocean of Milk) to meet Lord Vishnu, who was resting in his Ananta Shayana (eternal repose on the serpent Ananta). The account of Sri Balabhadra’s birth is described in the context of what Lord Vishnu told them.

Brahma told the devas (gods), “Listen, O Devas! Narayana has said that he himself will be born in the house of Vasudeva as the son of Devaki. However, before that, Ananta, or Sri Balabhadra, who is an expansion of His own divine power (kala), will first be conceived in Devaki’s womb. Mahamaya, through her yogic power, will transfer that embryo from Devaki’s womb and place it in the womb of Rohini, who resides in the house of King Nanda. As a result, Sankarshana Sri Balabhadra will be born from Rohini’s womb.”

In this connection, the Third Chapter of the Tenth Canto of the Bhagavata describes that, on Vishnu’s advice, Mahamaya came with great joy to the city of Mathura in the mortal realm. She transferred the embryo from Devaki, who was in Kansa’s prison, and placed it in the womb of Rohini in the town of Gopa. As a result, Sri Balabhadra was born on the day of Shravan Purnima.

The ‘#Bhagavata’ describes the appearance of the newborn Sri Balabhadra as follows:

“On that supreme full moon day,
Rohini gave birth to a son.
His form was of radiant white light,
A seven-hooded serpent adorned his head.
A son was born in the childless home,
And Nanda’s heart was filled with joy.”

A description regarding this is also found in ‘Balabhadra Janmakatha,’ a work written in ancient Odia prose.
In response to a question from Devarshi Narada, Pitamaha (the great father) Brahma stated that Sri Balabhadra was born on a Wednesday, on Shravan Purnima, under the Shravana Nakshatra (lunar mansion). At the time of his birth, he was as mighty as a crore (ten million) lions and as radiant as a crore suns.

Honor Bada Thakura with our sacred Gahma Purnima collection.