06-14-2007, 03:55 AM
Bodhiji,
Actually balarAma being considered an avatAra by himself is not inconsistent with balarAma-kathAmR^ita being filled with stories of kR^ishNa. Because in this stream of devotion, kR^ishNa is supreme God himself, and balarAma is one avatAra or aspect of him, although coeval in time.
From the earlier link:
http://www.guruvayurappantemple.org/pdfs/D...ra_Sanskrit.pdf
( By the way, the sanskrit text has lots of typos in the above link )
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In this text, the eighth incarnation is Balaraama, the elder brother of Sri Krishna.
We must note that to Jayadeva and all the vaishnavas, Sri Krishna is not an
incarnation; He is Lord Himself. Therefore Krishna is addressed here as Hari and
Keshava in each stanza. He is the Entity who appeared in these ten forms.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I mentioned gauDIya vaishNavism, since poet jayadeva was from Bengal. And you mention that "Babu Harsha Chandra was a famous Bangali-Marwari Seth". So may be this is a peculiarity of gauDIya vaisNavism.
Actually balarAma being considered an avatAra by himself is not inconsistent with balarAma-kathAmR^ita being filled with stories of kR^ishNa. Because in this stream of devotion, kR^ishNa is supreme God himself, and balarAma is one avatAra or aspect of him, although coeval in time.
From the earlier link:
http://www.guruvayurappantemple.org/pdfs/D...ra_Sanskrit.pdf
( By the way, the sanskrit text has lots of typos in the above link )
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In this text, the eighth incarnation is Balaraama, the elder brother of Sri Krishna.
We must note that to Jayadeva and all the vaishnavas, Sri Krishna is not an
incarnation; He is Lord Himself. Therefore Krishna is addressed here as Hari and
Keshava in each stanza. He is the Entity who appeared in these ten forms.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I mentioned gauDIya vaishNavism, since poet jayadeva was from Bengal. And you mention that "Babu Harsha Chandra was a famous Bangali-Marwari Seth". So may be this is a peculiarity of gauDIya vaisNavism.