Who are Lord Balarama's two wives?

[Terese]

I thought Revati was His only wife, but I have seem to come across a second wife, Varuni. How did these two wives come to be with Lord Balaram? Were they wives of Sri Lakshmana too?

 

[Aupmanyav]

1. Revati, daughter of King Kakudmi, also known as Raivata, ruler of Kushasthali or Anarta (Wikipedia, somewhere in North Gujarat)
Probably, the name of the second wife was Varuni. But I cannot find any more information about her. Nitai Dasa will know but he has stopped visiting us.

 

[तत्त्वप्रह्व]

Namaste,

Vāruṇī is the mūlarūpa patnī of śeṣa, revatī is an avatāra of vāruṇī with āveśa of śrī since balarāma had an amśa of nārāyaṇa.

… … … … … yā śeṣapatnī vāruṇī nāma pūrvā |
saivāgatā balabhadreṇa rantuṁ dvirūpamāsthāya mahāpativratā || gāruḍe 3-28-2||

yā revatī raivatasyaiva putrī sā vāruṇī balabhadrasya patnī | … … …|| gāruḍe 3-28-8||

श्रीशेषपतिमध्वेशकृष्णार्पणमस्तु ।

 

[Terese]

Namaste,

Vāruṇī is the mūlarūpa patnī of śeṣa, revatī is an avatāra of vāruṇī with āveśa of śrī since balarāma had an amśa of nārāyaṇa.

… … … … … yā śeṣapatnī vāruṇī nāma pūrvā |
saivāgatā balabhadreṇa rantuṁ dvirūpamāsthāya mahāpativratā || gāruḍe 3-28-2||

yā revatī raivatasyaiva putrī sā vāruṇī balabhadrasya patnī | … … …|| gāruḍe 3-28-8||

श्रीशेषपतिमध्वेशकृष्णार्पणमस्तु ।

Ah! What is a mularupa patni? When did Varuni appear? What is an avesa and amsa? Is that quote from the Garuda Purana? And may you translate that quote? I am not fluent in Sanskrit, unfortunately.

 

[निताइ dasa]

For us Gaudiyas its the other way around (which makes sense because for us Ananta Sesha comes from Balarama). Varuni devi is considered an expansion of Revati devi. Sometimes in avatars, personalities may merge into one, (which is what happened with the consort of Lakshmana, Urmila devi, who is combined avatar of Revati and Varuni). It was the same for the Lord's parents. In Rama avatar, the Lord only had one father (Dasharatha) but in Krsna avatar, there were two (Vasudeva and Nanda Maharaj).

Lord Balarama however, who is considered the avatari (source of all avatars) (in the Gaudiya view of course) has two consorts. According to us, when He appears as Lord Nityananda, then Revati and Varuni become Jahnava and Vasudha respectively.

Here you can see them on both sides of Lord Balarama:

 

[DeviChaaya]

For us Gaudiyas its the other way around (which makes sense because for us Ananta Sesha comes from Balarama). Varuni devi is considered an expansion of Revati devi. Sometimes in avatars, personalities may merge into one, (which is what happened with the consort of Lakshmana, Urmila devi, who is combined avatar of Revati and Varuni). It was the same for the Lord's parents. In Rama avatar, the Lord only had one father (Dasharatha) but in Krsna avatar, there were two (Vasudeva and Nanda Maharaj).

Lord Balarama however, who is considered the avatari (source of all avatars) (in the Gaudiya view of course) has two consorts. According to us, when He appears as Lord Nityananda, then Revati and Varuni become Jahnava and Vasudha respectively.

Here you can see them on both sides of Lord Balarama:

As all forms of God are, ultimately, emanating from the one source, it is no problem for them to take singular or multiple forms. Thus we have Bhu Devi and Sri Devi; same deity in essence but expanded to be more lovable and worshippable. Why else would She take so many forms? She has so many faces, so many different leelas! Sometimes She is Krishna, sometimes She is Balarama or Rama or Durga or Shiva. She is the supreme actor and creator, amusing Herself through Her acts.

 

[Terese]

For us Gaudiyas its the other way around (which makes sense because for us Ananta Sesha comes from Balarama). Varuni devi is considered an expansion of Revati devi. Sometimes in avatars, personalities may merge into one, (which is what happened with the consort of Lakshmana, Urmila devi, who is combined avatar of Revati and Varuni). It was the same for the Lord's parents. In Rama avatar, the Lord only had one father (Dasharatha) but in Krsna avatar, there were two (Vasudeva and Nanda Maharaj).

Lord Balarama however, who is considered the avatari (source of all avatars) (in the Gaudiya view of course) has two consorts. According to us, when He appears as Lord Nityananda, then Revati and Varuni become Jahnava and Vasudha respectively.

Here you can see them on both sides of Lord Balarama:

Thank you for replying Nitai Daas ji But there is something i am quite confused about. Where do Varuni and Revati devi come from? What are their statuses? eg jivatma, and where does it say that Lakshmana's wife Urmila devi is a combined avatar of Revati and Varuni?

Lovely murthi

 

[निताइ dasa]

Where do Varuni and Revati devi come from? What are their statuses? eg jivatma, and where does it say that Lakshmana's wife Urmila devi is a combined avatar of Revati and Varuni?

I'm not sure I understand. Varuni and Revati devi are both eternal consorts of Lord Balarama. I'm not sure they even have an origin. They are also not Jivatmas but rather Shakti tattva . Although, as understand it, in many traditional philosophies, if Balarama is amsa of Krsna, then Revati and Varuni would be amsa's of Lakshmi.

As for Lakshmanji, there is not shastric proof of this that I am aware of, but generally whenever the Lord takes an incarnation His associated may combine into one personality, or split into many. When Lord Narasimha deva appeared, then Lord Balarama did not take an incarnation as His brother, but was present as Lord Narasimha's clothes, shoes, jewels etc. Like, with Lord Rama again, His other brothers, Bharat and Shatrugna are considered to be expansions of Lakshmana.

There is great oneness and variety in the spiritual world. Everything emanates from one source (Krsna/Visnu/Narayana), but that one source can have various forms for the performance of different pastimes. Like all the Gopis of Krsna are separate from Radharani, but they are also considered Her expansions (Kaya-vyuhas). And ultimately Radha Krsna are also One, but for the purpose of pastimes they split into two. That is why our philosophy is called acintya-bhedabheda (inconceivable oneness and difference). However, different schools will have different interpretations where these particular personalities stand in terms of variety and position.

 

[तत्त्वप्रह्व]

Namaste,

Ah! What is a mularupa patni?

Mūlarūpa: original form; patnī: consort.

When did Varuni appear?

Vāruṇī, sauparṇī (consort of garuḍa), and gaurī (consort of mahādeva) belong to the one category of deities just as their respective consorts belong to one category. Their appearance happens multiple times as the process of creation ensues. Firstly from nārāyaṇa, subsequently thru lakṣmī, and brahma. All other devatas will similarly appear at multiple stages, and whereas garuḍa-śeṣa-rudra are supported by brahma, and brahma by lakṣmī, all other devatas are sustained by rudra. Similarly, during creation, garuḍa emanates as the abhimāni (presiding deity) of citta, śeṣa of cetana, and rudra of ahaṅkāra. Similarly, umā emanates as the abhimāninī of buddhi, and vāruṇī and sauparṇī as that of manas-tattva.

What is an avesa and amsa?

Āveśa refers to the (usually) temporary appearance of a special form of nārāyaṇa (or other deities) in particular jīva. Aṁśa can be understood differently based on the context (even within specific context of avatāra), in general terms refers to a portion of which there can be different extents - partial, limited, absolute/complete etc. For e.g.., 1) paruśurāma, rāma, and pṛthu were vaiṣṇavāmśa-saṁbhūta, yet pṛthu was āveśa-avatāra whereas the former two were pūrṇāvatāras; similarly, 2) dūrvāsa, śuka, and aśvatthāma are rudrāṁśa-saṁbhūta - avatāras of śiva. All other deities too have avatāras, excluding brahma. However, there is a significant difference between 1) and 2) types of avatāras (perhaps different thread). But basically, all appearances of deities in forms other than their mūlarūpa is considered aṁśāvatāra.

Quick translation: (From garuḍapurāṇa)

… … … … … yā śeṣapatnī vāruṇī nāma pūrvā |
saivāgatā balabhadreṇa rantuṁ dvirūpamāsthāya mahāpativratā || gāruḍe 3-28-2||

… … she (who is) consort of śeṣa named vāruṇī to begin with | herself appeared to take pleasure in the company of balabhadra holding twin forms … …

yā revatī raivatasyaiva putrī sā vāruṇī balabhadrasya patnī | … … …|| gāruḍe 3-28-8||

she (who is) revatī - the daughter of raivata (and) consort of balabhadra, is none other than vāruṇī |

वारुणीशान्तर्गतमध्वेशकृष्णार्पणमस्तु ।

 

[Terese]

there is a significant difference between 1) and 2) types of avatāras (perhaps different thread).

May i make a thread asking this? Solely because you slightly suggested it, Tattwa

 

[तत्त्वप्रह्व]

May i make a thread asking this? Solely because you slightly suggested it, Tattwa

Well, i only meant that it would be a long digression from the present topic, but sure, will contribute to the extent i can.

आनन्दतीर्थवरदश्रीकृष्णार्पणमस्तु ।