Dauji is one of the four presiding
Deities of Vraja. All the famous Deities left Vraja, but Dauji did
not leave even after He revealed Himself to the Muslims.
24 kilometers from Mathura there is a
village called BaldeoorDauji. Originally it was called Ridha. It is a
home of Balaram Deity.
Dauji means the "older brother"
and it is the name of Balaram.
Deity of Dauji is about 2 meters high
and it is the largest Deity in Vraja-mandala. This Balaram Deity was
installed by Vajranabha 4900 years ago.
Extremely attractive sri-vigraha of
Balaram is syama-complexioned (blackish), with huge eyes, and His
right hand is raised. In His left hand is a cup of Varuni beverage.
Revati, the wife of Balaram, is also
installed in this temple. She is to the left of the front altar door
with Her back to the wall facing Balaram. She cannot be seen from the
front door of the altar, but She can be viewed from the right side
door...
...The confidential reason why she is
somewhat concealed is that Sri Dauji's marriage took place while He
was residing in Dvaraka and not while He was living in Vraja. Revati
is Balaram's consort in Dvaraka not in Vraja.
Ksira-sagar-kund (Sankarsan-kund)
This kund (lake) is said to have been
constructed by the residents of Vraja, when they filled it with the
milk from 100 000 cows as an offering to Balaram.
"Ksira" means "milk"
and "Ksira-saga-kund" means "Sea of milk".
Ksira-sagar is just behind the temple.
The yellow flag is above the main altar of Dauji Mandir.
It is said that Deity was found lying
down in Ksira-sagar-kund. Devoted people took Sri Dauji from the kund
and built this temple, in which they duly seated and worshipped Him.
The pujaris may have put the Deity in
the lake out of fear of an attack by the bigot Aurangzeb.
Dauji's birth from the womb of mother
Rohini, eight days before the birth of Sri Krisna, took place in
Gokul-Mahavan. His nama-karana (name giving ceremony), cuda-karana
and other samskaras were performed with those of baby Krisna. Dauji
and Krisna also played together.
Ridha or Dauji Gaon is the pasturing
ground for Sri Baladauji's cows, being the forest area at the time of
His prakata-lila. This place is within Vidrumavana.
Inside the temple building.
Once every springtime during the Holi
festival, Dauji temple gets really crowded. Many people from the
villages around come to commemorate Divine pastimes.
During the Holi festival the pastimes
of Radha and Krisna are remembered by throwing colored dyes and
splashes of saffron water.
If one happens to be in the midst of
the present day Holi festival, one may think it to be just very
intense or even wild folk tradition, but originally it is rooted in
pastimes of Radha and Krisna.
Balaram once wanted to dance with the
gopies as Krisna did. They have danced for Him, but afterwards...
...ripped of His clothes and beated Him
similarly as present day gopis beat men at this special day when all
the social conventions are put aside.
In the Lalita-madhava it is stated that
Lord Baladeva, intoxicated from drinking excessive quantities of
honey, once began to address the ants, "O you kings of the ants!
Why are you hiding yourselves in these holes?" At the same time
He also addressed the King of heaven, "O King Indra! You
plaything of Saci! Why are you laughing? I am now prepared to smash
the whole universe, and I know that Krisna will not be angry with
Me..."
...Then He addressed Krishna, "My
dear Krishna, tell Me immediately why the whole world is trembling and
why the moon has become elongated! And O you members of the Yadu
dynasty, why are you laughing at Me? Please give Me back My liquors
made of honey from the kadamba flower!" Srila Rupa Goswami prays
that Lord Balaram will be pleased with all of us while He is thus
talking just like an intoxicated person...
The Nectar of Devotion
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