Word bala in Sanskrit ordinarily means force, power. But in esoteric sense, it may mean – to invoke power from the universe which may satisfy our needs, our hunger. There are generally references of two types of bala – one in the hands and the other in thighs. The bala in hands is the power of a warrior, while the bala in thighs is the power of a merchant. One is supposed to convert the bala of thighs into bala of hands. It is noteworthy that in the story of slaying of Duryodhana by Bheema, Bheema destroys his thighs. There is also mention of a third type of bala – the bala of a braahmin.
In puraanic literature, there is mention of different types of balas for different categories of people. For example, a celibate would want the bala of Brahma, a pundit the bala of knowledge, a rich the bala of wealth, a child the bala of weeping etc. There is also mention of the bala of a tree, which is it’s fruit. This statement becomes important when one takes into consideration the statement of astrologer Steiner who states that the fruit of a tree signifies super mental powers.
How bala can be attained? There are two ways. One is to attain it from higher levels of consciousness. The other is from lower levels of consciousness. When one has to attain it from higher levels, then shining of sun is supposed to be the highest level. When one has to attain it from lower levels, then one is supposed to conserve his energies at lower levels which are at present going waste in mundane matters. The legendry figure Balaraama, elder brother of lord Krishna, was born of Rohini. Rohini signifies ascending power. In vedic literature, there are references to various letters of Sanskrit vocabulary which can be used for converting heat into useful bala. The vowels are supposed to be the purest form of bala, where one individual consciousness can easily mix up with the universal consciousness. Moreover, one has to collect bala from different directions with the help of different gods. This bala is used to elevate anger at higher levels.
Bala is used to make life free from ailments. This has been symbolized in puraanic literature by the weapon gadaa/mace.
बल
टिप्पणी : यद्यपि ऋग्वेद की कुछ एक ऋचाओं में ही बल शब्द प्रकट हुआ है, लेकिन अथर्ववेद, विशेषकर पैप्पलाद संहिता के मन्त्रों में बल शब्द का प्रचुर प्रयोग हुआ है । बल शब्द को भर शब्द का रूपान्तरण कहा जा सकता है । भर का अर्थ होता है ब्रह्माण्ड की ऊर्जा को स्वयं के अन्दर भरना, स्थूल भोजन किए बिना ही ब्रह्माण्ड से अन्न का आकर्षण करना आदि(बल धान्यावरोधने - जीवने - कविकल्पद्रुम(शब्दकल्पद्रुम) । बल के इस अर्थ की प्रत्यक्ष पुष्टि जैमिनीय ब्राह्मण २.२१७ से होती है जहां उल्लेख आता है कि भरद्वाज ने कामना की कि उसकी प्रजा ओजिष्ठ व बलिष्ठ हो । उसने पञ्चदश स्तोम का दर्शन किया । ओज व बल ही पञ्चदश स्तोम है । भरद्वाज व बल का सम्बन्ध तब तक स्पष्ट नहीं हो सकता जब तक कि भर और बल