Biography of Shri Lal Balbir (Badri Prasadji)

In Vrindavan, there has been excellent poets, Acharya, Scholars, devotees, and Rasikas, Shri Lal Balbir (Badriprasad) was among them.

 

Lala Ramlalji Agrawal used to reside in Vyas Ghera near Shri Vrindavan Bankhandi Mahadev. He had five sons. The eldest son among them was the author of Vrajvinod, Lala Badriprasad (Lal Balbir). He was born around 1829 - 1838.

He has given the introduction of the lineage, etc. in the following couplets as follows -

 

 

Ramlalji used to have special faith in the sages. Along with the means of worshiping Deities, associating with devotees, and Name chanting of the Lord, He used to do business according to his tradition. According to his nature, it is natural for his children to have the same tendency. At that time, education in the country was not required as much as it is today. Schools were very few, so Badri Prasad Ji got only a simple education though. However, through associating with devotees, He got the aim of His life, due to which he is inclined towards devotion to God since childhood. He also had a natural tendency to write poetry.

 

There was a Champalal Agrawal in Ghiyamandi Dusarwali street in Mathura, who worked as a confectioner. His wife's name was Pakodibai. He had two daughters, one named Chanda and the other named Saraswati. Chanda was married to Lal Balbir. They had five sons named Santlal, Ladaitilal, Bankelal, Ramswaroop, and Puranchand, and a daughter named Bhagwan Devi.

 

Badri Prasad did not pay any special attention to economic development. He used to sell tobacco in a small shop of Mahant Sudarshandas (Bankhandi Mohalla) and used to run his entire household expenses from that.

There were always more than twenty people in his shop. The flow of poetry recitation continued day and night. When someone who bought tobacco or walked on the road started a rhyme, then the poems of the same context kept flying for hours. Hearing that, a crowd of visitors used to gather. No matter whether it is the king, the nobleman, or anyone who went through there, he would always stop for five minutes after seeing the crowd. In this simple business, Lala Badriprasad used to do poetry and experience more pleasure than the happiness of heaven.

Lal Balbir used to engage in poetry composition while living the life of an exclusive devotee after getting the great benefit of residing in Vrindavan, Yamuna bath, and Lord's Prasad. He was an exclusive devotee of Shri Radha. Being immersed in Radha's devotion, he composed 'Radhashtak'.

Everyone used to do exercise during those days which was very common not only in Vrindavan but in the whole of Vraj. Badri Prasad used to regularly go to the Antaryami and Dalel's arenas to exercise. Lal Balbir used to do wrestling as well as rhymes.

 

There is a Kunj of Jagadguru Shri Nimbarkacharya Shri Shreeji Maharaj in Bankhandi locality which is famous as Shreeji's new Kunj. There used to be an exalted devotee Shri Krishnadasji. He was the officer of Shreeji Maharaj. During those days, the management of all the Kunjas of Vrindavan and the property of Mathura was in his hands. Lal Balbir had become loyal to him since childhood. He used to visit him regularly once every day. His brother-in-law Priyadas (Prem Sakhi) had left the house after taking initiation from Shri Krishnadasji, he didn’t even marry as well. In his compositions, by remembering Shrinimbarka, Shribhatta, Shri Harivyas, Shriparshuram, etc., Priyadas has clearly mentioned the secret name of his spiritual master Shri Krishnadasji in his traditions in many compositions. Lal Balbir has called him his spiritual master.

Lal Balbir, in his verses, has remembered his spiritual master "Shri Krishnadas Ji (Krishn Ali)" at many places, who was a follower of the Nimbarka sect.

 

‘By the grace of the Lotus Feet of Shri Krishn Ali Ji, I have completed the 'Shadritu Shatak' book.’

 

‘May the dust of the Lotus Feet of Shri Krishn Ali Ji always adorn my head.’

"Ati Matiheen Deen Baavari Haun Swamini Ju,
Ehau Krishn Ali Cheri Raavari Kahaun Main. "
O, Swamini Ju, I am the most foolish, destitute, and mad in your love, but I am the disciple of Shri Krishn Ali, therefore I am Yours.
 

Lal Balbir used to do name chanting of the Lord and remembrance in poetry recitation and creation, and from time to time he used to participate in spiritual discourses, the association of devotees, sankirtan, etc. He had a special interest in the circumambulation of Vrindavan and Shri Giriraj Govardhan. In this way, whenever he had a desire, he have circumambulated Giriraj, but on the full moon of Ashadh Shukla (June-July), he used to circumambulate with a special ceremony. He used to reach there with 5-7 companions only a week ago. His routine was to circumambulate daily and recite his poetry by stopping at each place of the circumambulation. He used to cook food at the place where he rested. All the companions used to spend the same amount of money, but Badri Prasad used to spend double because due to his huge body, the quantity of his food was also more than the others. After completing the circumambulation of Giriraj on the full moon, he would go to Barsana-Nandgaon. He used to visit Shreeji Temple in Barsana and Krishn Balram Temple in Nandgaon. There were also poetry festivals. When he used to narrate the description of Shri Radha in Barsana from head to toe, the audience was stunned and go into a trance state.

In Shri Vrindavan also, every year on Vasant Panchami, there was a spring festival in the garden of Shri Ranganatha, in which Badri Prasad was also invited. He used to join with his companions, reciting poetry vigorously. There used to be beautiful rain of various verses like poetry, savaiya, etc. Many lovers used to write them too. The poems of Lal Balbir have got good fame in the cities of Samthar-Panna etc. of Bundelkhand and towards Datia-Jhansi. In addition to verses like Doha, Poem, Savaiya, and Pada, etc., he also composed theater play in the beginning, among them 'Vishandeva' etc., were beautifully played on the stages in Vrindavan. He used to sing sewaiyas and kavitts when He used to go to the darshan of Banke Bihari and everyone is amazed.

 

Buddhi Lakhera, Durga Goldsmith, Shivlal Bhaat, and Damodar 'Dampati Kishor' were the disciples of Lal Balbir.

 

Lal Balbir was a great poet. His poetic works were published in his time - and are stored in texts named 'Vraj Vinod' which was earlier called 'Balbir Hazara'. Vrindavan Shatak, Paavas Battisi, Giriraj Ashtak, Shad Ritu Shatak, Radha Shatak, 'Maanpachisi', 'Priya Ju Ko Sikh-Nakh' and 'Nakh-Shikh Varnan', 'Prem Panchasika,' and poems consisting the divine pastimes of Shri Radha Krishn, etc. are compiled in the 'Balbir Hazara'.

There are also 'Vrikshavand,' 'Bhojanvand,' 'Pasarat' etc. in Vand literature. 'Vinod Pachisi' is his other composition which is still unprinted. 'Gopinath Bhartrihari' is also said to be his composition, but is still unavailable.

Most of the compositions of Lal Balbir Ji are filled with devotional sentiments of Shri Radha, Vrindavan, Yamuna, Shri Krishn, etc. In 'Vrindavan Shatak', Lal Balbir has glorified Vrindavan more than anything in His devotion and considered it supreme among all. In the verses of Lal Balbir, three imprints are found, 'Lal Balbir', 'Valvir', and 'Das'.

 

On Shravan (July-August) Krishna Amavasya (dark fortnight) in 1920, Shri Lal Balbir left his body in Vrindavan itself.