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The reason that Balarama is called an incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu is that the serpent Adiseshan is himself a form of Vishnu. Here is how Balarama's birth is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam:
When Kamsa had killed six of the children born from Devakî, the seventh one, a plenary expansion of Vishnu who was celebrated with the name Ananta, therefore [...
answered Aug 22 '14 at 2:38
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The story is described in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. A king named Shwetaki had once conducted a Yagna (fire-ritual) for twelve years, and having consumed all the ghee (clarified butter) that was offered into the fire, Agni the fire god felt lethargic. So he consulted Brahma, who told him to consume the Khandava forest:
O exalted one, thou hast ...
answered Jul 10 '14 at 22:09
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Following are the set of situations which made Balarama take Duryodhana sides:-
Duryodhana was better then Bhima in skills, he was a better student, Bhima only had raw power but Duryodhana got all his power by hard work and skills. That's made Duryodhana his favorite student.
Balarama wished a successful marriage between Subhadra and Duryodhana but Arjuna ...
10
As per Mahabharat Tatparya Nirnaya of Madhavacharya, it was because Balarama had come under the influence of kali and had deviated from bhagavata dharam. The reason he deviated from dharma was because he disbelieved Krishna's words, who was God Himself.
Krishna and Balarama chased the fleeting Satadhanwa as he had killed Satyabhama's father Satrajit for the ...
9
It looks like Balarama was aware of His divinity. Balarama is avatar of Adishesha who is Lord Vishnu Himself. So, it's like Lord Vishnu killing Romaharshana. Even it is virtuous or a boon to get killed by Lord. So, Romaharshana (Suta) was blessed for getting killed by Lord.
Anyways, Balarama mentions the reason in detail in Chapter 19 Setu Mahatmya Brahma ...
8
Markandeya Purana chapter 6 states that BalaRama repents for killing Suta. It states:
Suta, being slain, attained to the dignity of Brahma; and all the twice-born, clad in antelope skin, went away from the forest. Considering himself sullied, the holder of plough thought: "A great iniquity has been perpetrated by me. I have slain Suta who has ...
6
@Keshav Your answer describes how Krsna obtained his Sudarshana and Kaumodaki, which are of course his main weapons. But apart from these two, Srimad Bhagavatam describes how they got most of their divine weapons.
In Canto 10, Chapter 50, the story of Jarasandha's invasion of Mathura is described.
Accordingly, Jarasandha, to avenge his son-in-law, Kamsa, ...
5
Adishesha lies on the Garbhodaka Ocean. This universe lies inside Hiranyagarbh which also has 14 planetary systems. Beneath the 14 planetary system is the cosmic ocean known as Garbhodaka ocean.
According to SB 5.23.9, the last planetary system is Patala. Further 30,000 yojanas(ancient distance measurement unit) below, Adishesha lies on Garbhodaka ocean but ...
3
I am providing answer related to heights of humans in different yuga only
In the Skanda Purana, while explaining the greatness of the Yugas, their extent and special features, Brhaspati told the measurements for heights of humans in different yugas.
[KRTA YUGA]: ....They are as tall as five Talas(Palms).....
[TRETA YUGA]: ....They are one Tala (palm ...
3
According to Chaitanya Charitamrta and Gaudiya Vaishnava view, yes he is:
sei kṛṣṇa navadvīpe śrī-caitanya-candra
sei balarāma saṅge śrī-nityānanda [CC - 1.5.6]
Meaning
That original Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared in Navadvīpa as Lord Caitanya, and Balarāma appeared with Him as Lord Nityānanda.
sarva-rūpe āsvādaye kṛṣṇa-sevānanda
sei balarāma — gaura-saṅge nityānanda ...
3
Balarama is not usually referred to as Vāsudeva, but there is one use of Vāsudeva in the Bhagavad Gita which many commentators interpret as referring to Balarama. Namely verse 10.37:
vṛṣṇīnāṁ vāsudevo ’smi pāṇḍavānāṁ dhanañ-jayaḥ |
munīnām apy ahaṁ vyāsaḥ kavīnām uśanā kaviḥ ||
Of the descendants of Vṛṣṇi I am Vāsudeva, and of the Pāṇḍavas I am ...
answered Jan 14 '18 at 6:24
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Yes, there is. Again in Orissa:
Ananta Vasudeva Temple
From page 31 of the book, The History of Medieval Vaishnavism in Orissa:
Anangabhima III's daughter Chandrika was devoted to Vishnu and she erected a Vishnu temple on the Vindu-Sarovara (1.8) "at Elcamra, ( Bhuvaneswar ) and offered worship with great magnificence to Baladeva, Krishna and Subhadra&...
3
why Lord Balarama did not fight on behalf of any side?
The answer is given by Shree Ved Vyasa In Shreemad Bhagavatam . He decided to stay neutral in the war to avoid an awkward situation .
श्रुत्वायुद्धोदयमं राम: कुरूणां सह पाण्डवै : |
तीर्थाभिषेकव्याजेन मध्यस्थ: प्रययौ किल || SB 10.78.17||
śrutvā yuddhodyamaḿ rāmaḥ kurūṇāḿ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ
...
2
Rohini and other wives of Vasudeva used to live at the home of Nanda Mahārāja due to fear of Kaṁsa:
The Lord ordered Yoga-māyā:
In that very beautiful land, where many cows reside, Rohiṇī, the wife of Vasudeva, is living at the home of Nanda Mahārāja. Other wives of Vasudeva are also living there incognito because of fear of Kaṁsa. Please go there.
Within ...
2
To add to the other answer which cites Srimad Bhagavatam mentioning that " the Lord advented Himself as Lord Balarama", another source which might probably explain why you saw Balrama as 8th avatar of Vishnu is the Dashavatara Stotram by Jayadeva Goswami, that specifically mentions Lord Balarama as the 8th incarnation of Vishnu.
Here is the corresponding ...
2
Krishna got Sudarshan Chakra from Parshurama.
This tale goes like this:-
Sage Narada was once visiting Vaikunta, the abode of Lord Vishnu. He
extolled the Lord in very colorful terms. Vishnu's major weapon was
the 'Chakra' (sharp-edged spinning wheel) known as 'Sudarshana
Chakra'. So far none could face it and come out of the attack
victorious. ...
2
In addition to the above answer, there are also a few scriptural injunctions that the Goswamis quote to support that Lord Nityananda is Balaram Himself
Vayu Purana states:
balaramo mamaivamsah, so 'pi mat-prstham esyati;
nityananda iti khyato nyasi-cudamanih ksitau
"In the Vayu Purana, the Lord tells Brahma: "Lord Balarama, who is My first ...
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Balarama is neither.
Kṛṣṇa is clearly shown to be Svayam Bhagavān by Bhāgavatām whose feet are
respected hundreds of times by all other scriptures, with the help of other texts
such as Gītā, Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad, and other scriptures. Other Purāṇas also
state what Bhāgavatm states, that Kṛṣṇa is Svayam Bhagavān. For instance
Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa says that a ...
1
It is same as Krishna's purpose. To remove the burden of the world.
ekonaviṁśe viṁśatime vṛṣṇiṣu prāpya janmanī rāma-kṛṣṇāv iti bhuvo
bhagavān aharad bharam
In the nineteenth and twentieth incarnations, the Lord advented
Himself as Lord Balarāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa in the family of Vṛṣṇi [the
Yadu dynasty], and by so doing He removed the burden of ...
1
Namaste
Avatar purush when they take birth, they bring their supplementary ecosystem also. In Ramayana, brother Laxmana is shown suspicious or apprehensive of schemy step mother Kaikeyi & her son Bharat. Eldest brother Lord Rama always overrides such fears and being devoted brother, Laxmana obeyed it, but always nursed grouse if he had been elder ...
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There are many stories in which it is said Shiva or Agni gifted Sudarshana Chakra to Krishna/Vishnu, but in reality it is not the case. All the weapons are Krishna's eternal property and his weapons immediately appear in front of him when he calls them or wish to use them. Just because, he received the weapon (s) from someone in his divine pastimes, it doesn'...
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