Lord Balarama is Krishna ‘s elder brother and His appearance day takes place on the full moon day (purnima) in the month of Sridhara month Balarama, two weeks before Krishna Janmashtami. This day is celebrated in Vrindavana and Mathura region. Particularly at the Dauji Temple, where Balarama resides with His consort Revati.
Krishna and Balarama were the darlings of Vrindavan/ Vraja. Together They would spend the day enjoying the company of the cowherd boys in the forests of Vraja. Their wonderful pastimes are related in the tenth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which Srila Prabhupada also translated as The Krishna Book. Lord Balarama is also considered the original spiritual master and His worship is therefore most important for Vaishnavas
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.14.28 purport:
“Sri Rama, or Balarama, is the protector of the devotees of the Lord. Baladeva acts as the spiritual master of all devotees, and by His causeless mercy the fallen souls are delivered. Sri Baladeva appeared as Sri Nityananda Prabhu during the advent of Lord Caitanya, and the great Lord Nityananda Prabhu exhibited His causeless mercy by delivering a pair of extremely fallen souls, namely Jagai and Madhai Therefore it is particularly mentioned herein that Balarama is the protector of the devotees of the Lord. By His divine grace only one can approach the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna, and thus Sri Balarama is the mercy incarnation of the Lord, manifested as the spiritual master, the savior of the pure devotees.”
namaste halagraha namaste musalayudha
namaste revati-kanta namaste bhakta-vatsala
namaste balinam srestha namaste dharani-dhara
pralambara namas te tu ehi mam krsna-purvaja
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Obeisances to You, O holder of the plow. Obeisances to You, O wielder of the mace. Obeisances to You, O darling of Revati. Obeisances to You, Who are very kind to Your devotees. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Balarama, the best of the strong and the support of the earth. Obeisances unto You, O enemy of Pralamba. Please deliver me, O elder brother of Krsna.
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