(Click to enlarge photo of Lord Balarama, Vrindavan)
"Pradyumna is Krishna's plenary expansion like Vasudeva, Aniruddha and Sankarsan. When Krishna appeared on the earth Pradyumna appeared as His son born of Rukmini. The immediate expansion of Krishna is Valadeva. who appeared as elder brother of Krishna and Valadeva. expands Himself further as Sankarsan, Vasudeva, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. There are such innumerable expansions of Krishna and Pradyumna is one of them. There is no difference in potency of all these expansions."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, April 27, 1967)
"Balai is the name of Baladev., Krishna's elder brother. His wife is called Balai dasi, or His girlfriend is called Balai dasi. Baladev. is not different from Krishna. He is first expansion from Krishna. All the incarnations and expansions begin from Baladev."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 29, 1967)
"The community in which Krishna preferred to belong was Vaisya community, because Nanda Maharaja happened to be a Vaisya king, or landholder, and his main business was cow protection. It is understood that he had 900,000 cows and Krishna and Balaram used to take charge of them, along with His many cowherd boy friends, and every day, in the morning He used to go out with His friends and cows into the pasturing grounds."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 14, 1968)
"Regarding your question, Sayamrupa means the Original Form. Sayamprakash means Balarama. And Tadekatmarupa is the purusa, just like Mahavisnu. It is not necessary to remember or fully understand all these different forms, at the present, but it is like if you simply stick to the master faithfully that is very good, but if you know that my master is so great, and so rich, and great in this way and rich in this way, and that way, then your veneration for your master will increase. To know Krishna is great, how He is expanded into different forms, that enhances our attachment to Krishna more rigidly."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 13, 1968)
"In tending the deities, you may wash Balarama first, before washing Krishna."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 24, 1969)
"Regarding your question about Krishna's associates, the principle is that all living entities are expansions of the Original Living Entity, Krishna. But there are different grades of living entities: Vishnu Tattva and Jiva Tattva. Visnu Tattva is almost equal to the level of the Personality of Godhead, and Jiva Tattva is minute particles. So when Lord Chaitanya appeared, Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu were Visnu Tattva; whereas Gadadhar Prabhu and Srivas Prabhu were Shakti Tattva. Jiva Tattva is also within the Shakti Tattva. These things are explained in TLC and other of our books. Lord Nityananda is Balarama Himself, not an expansion of Him. Srila Narottama das Thakur has sung that the Lord who appeared as the Son of Nanda Maharaj has now appeared as the son of Sachidevi; and the same Balarama has appeared as Nityananda. This is the statement of Srila Narottama das Thakur."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 8, 1969)
"Sri Narottama das Thakura says all sinful persons and suffering persons were delivered by the Sankirtana Movement inaugurated by Lord Caitanya, Who was formerly the Son of Nanda Maharaja, accompanied by Nityananda Prabhu, Who was formerly Sri Balarama. If we keep ourselves purely on the standard of Lord Caitanya's order, then chanting by us of the Holy Names of Krishna will descend as powerfully as He acted previously, during the time of Jagai and Madhai."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 20, 1969)
"Balarama is holding a plow, that is His weapon. Jagannath is holding the Chakra, that is His weapon. Krishna's name is Chakradhara (dhara=carries) or One Who Carries the Disc. Balarama's name is Haladhar, the Carrier of the Plow (hala)."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 27, 1970)
"Lord Jagannath can be dressed in yellow, Balarama in bluish color, and Subhadra in red color. That is usual, but any other color is not prohibited."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, February 10, 1970)
"Regarding the color of Balaramaji, He is colored like milk white with little bluish tint and rosy luster. Our idea of whiteness is of the milk foam."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, May 3, 1970)
"Yes, when Krsna and Balaram were students of Sandipuni Muni they may be shown with shaved heads and sikhas, kunthi, etc., just like our brahmacaries."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, May 26, 1970)
"Yes, the leaves of Srimati Tulasi Devi may be offered to all Visnu-tattva expansions of Krsna, including Nityananda and Balarama."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 4, 1973)
"Try to get some acres of land near the Buddha Jayanti Park. I wish to develop a Janmastami Park there and invite all the residents of New Delhi there to observe a grand festival on Janmastami day. I wish to construct a grand temple of Krishna Balaram and keep many cows in this park. The residents of New Delhi will be very much encouraged to visit this park. That is my ambition."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, May 12, 1975)
"You are Jaipuria, so you can help me in completing such an institution in Jaipur also. Jaipur is visited by many Vaishnavas as a holy place of pilgrimage. Especially Gaudiya Vaishnavas go there to see the duplicate Vrindaban Deities such as Govindaji, Radha Damodaraji, etc. So I want to open a duplicate Krishna Balarama temple in Jaipur. I am sending copies of pictures of our Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindaban. Of course there is also Radha Krishna and Gaura Nitai. I wish that you have some land in Jaipur and to help us in constructing a duplicate temple like Vrindaban."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, July 13, 1975)
"I have seen a photo of the dolls you have made of Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill and also Balarama. Your son has sent the photo. So you have done it very nicely. Go on with this work."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 4, 1975)
"One devotee described the personal beauty of Baladeva as follows 'Let me take shelter of the lotus feet of Balarāma, whose beauty is enhanced by the earrings touching His cheeks. His face is decorated with tilaka made from kastūrī (musk), and His broad chest is decorated with a garland of guñjā (small conchshells). His complexion is as white as an autumn cloud, He wears garments of blue color, and His voice is very grave. His arms are very long, touching His thighs, and He has shown His great strength by killing the Pralamba demon. Let me take shelter of this chivalrous Balarāma.' "
(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 41)
.
.
