Bhakta — Kabi Balaram Das
Balaram Das was born in 1472 A.D., and his father was a courtier in the court of King Prataparudra Deva, not a lot is known about his early personal life, but he was educated and well versed in Sanskrit.
Later in his life, he became a disciple of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and was the eldest among his “Pancha-Sakha”. His foremost contribution to the bhakti age was the translation of Ramayana into Odia — called the “Jagamohan Ramayan” or “Dandi Ramayan”. Apart from other works his most famous also includes the “Lakshmi Purana” which is read in every Odia household as a part of “Mana-basa Gurubar”.
His whole life was devoted to the Lord, his heart was filled with love for him but he had one flaw, an illicit attachment with prostitutes. Once during the annual Rath Yatra, having forgotten everything about the time and date, Balaram Das was in the company of a beautiful harlot which was a two-storeyed building just near the Sri Mandir. The raucous sound of hundred devotees, gongs being beaten, ululations could reach Balaram Das for a long time, however suddenly when the chariots were starting to be pulled, he realized what it all was.
He ran towards the chariots shouting “Jai Jagannath” in the same dress, with disheveled hair, the mark of saffron, women’s dye, and others which could tell that he had not bathed and had come running from a prostitute’s bed. Being absorbed in the Lord’s devotion, he climbed up the stairs of the chariot. This alerted the priests and they suddenly pushed him off the chariot holding him by his neck, everyone there berated him for his irresponsible and reckless behavior and then proceeded to purify the chariot.
A hurt man, salvaging his pride, Balaram Das proceeded to the seashore and built three chariots out of the sand. Expressing his deep anguish, he complained to the Lord, asking him if all the devotion that he had for him till that day was well rewarded with the humiliation he faced? If there was an iota of truth in his devotion towards him then it’s his sand chariots where he belonged. What else would the Lord have done? Seeing a devotee in distress and in the wrong, he climbed down his Nandighosha and settled in Balaram Das’s sand chariot.
Suddenly, the chariots which were rolling on the Grand Trunk Road stopped. Many attempts to make it move failed. The King even employed elephants, but they didn’t move an inch. News started drifting in that the sand chariots that Balaram Das built are where the Lord now is, people rushed towards the seaside. There, they found Balaram Das glowing in a cosmic consciousness and singing praises of the Lord. A large crowd gathered.
Failing to move the chariots, the King finally arrived to see the miracle himself. He believed that if he could convince Balaram Das to come to the Bada-danda, the Lord would follow him and the chariots would move. He did just that, begging his forgiveness, he requested Balaram Das to accompany him. A royal treatment was accorded to Balaram Das, and upon his arrival at the Bada-danda, the chariots started moving.
Such was the miracle of bhakti, such was the status accorded to a single bhakta over all others by the Lord.
Another incident in Balaram Das’s life is also talked about quite a lot. He once desired to see the night play of Laxmi-Narayana, and prayed to the Lord to grant him the opportunity. Without thinking much, by just looking at the devotion he relented and gave him his word.
When Maa Laxmi got news of this, she was infuriated. She couldn’t believe how a devotee, who’s like a child of the Lord, be lustful and desired to see the night play. However, since the Lord had already granted the wish, she could only curse him and said, “Though you have got everything a devotee could ask for, in the last part of your life you cannot stay at Puri”.
Balaram Das woke up from his sleep and was startled. He prayed to the Lord, and asked him forgiveness, the Lord appeared before him and said, “Balaram, you’ll have to live through the curse of Laxmi. However, go back to your village and build a temple for me. Pray there, and you’ll bear the same fruits as living in Srikshera, Puri”.
Balaram Das did just that, established a temple, appointed priests, and engaged in the services at the temple. However, he couldn’t let go of his love for Srikshetra. Every day he would go in the morning and come back to his village only after the evening diyas were lit. This went on for some days, until because of old age he couldn’t travel. And since he didn’t see the Lord, he could not eat food. This made him so weak that the Lord missed his devotee dearly, he appeared before him and urged him to visit him at the Erbanga temple in the evenings. After this, every evening he could see the trio at his village temple and eat only after that.
After many days, he was bedridden again due to old age. Remembering the curse of Laxmi, that his last days won’t be in Puri, he resigned to his fate. One day, however, he desired to see the Lord. Gathering enough strength he set off with his clothes, a pot of water, and a walking stick towards Srikshetra. Upon reaching the riverbank of Kushabhadra, which he had to cross, he decided to take a bath.
Upon entering the riverbed, he felt powerless and couldn’t move. He sobbed like a child crying out “Jagannath, Jagannath”. Much like how Draupadi’s prayers were answered when she was in trouble, Balaram Das saw Laxmi-Narayan appearing before him on their Garuda Viman and stood before him. Balaram Das was too powerless to greet them. He just joined both his hands in devotion.
Narayana said, “Srikshetra is not Puri, it is where Laxmi-Narayana reside, and at this moment, we are here in front of you. This is Srikshetra. People from far and wide will know of this place as ‘Gupta Srikshetra’”. That is where Balaram Das’s soul had attained salvation. On Balaram Das’s resting place, a samadhi was built, and was named “Balaram Gadi”. Till today, both of this place attracts a lot of pilgrims.
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