Word

Balarama

Sanskrit

बलराम

IAST

Balarāma

In General

Balarama is eighth of the major Ten avatar of Vishnu. He was born to Nandagopar and Rohini devi. Balarama is brother to Sri Krishna for Nandagopar being the foster father of Sri Krishna. He is regarded as an avatar of Sheshanaga to support Sri Krishna in his mission to eliminate adharma from the world. He is also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra and Halayudha(plough-weaponed). He married Revati, the daughter of king Revata.

Purana

Balarama was the elder brother of Krishna. According to Bhagavata Purana he was conceived as the seventh son of Vasudeva and Devaki. But the fetus was transferred to the womb of Rohini, wife of Nandagopar by divine power executed for its own purpose.

Balarama always hold a plough (hala) for his concern to farmers. The Yadava kingdom flourished under his leadership. He was an expert in fighting with gada (mace); Durodhana and Bhisma were his celebrated students. He once killed a Suta(Puranic story teller) in a fit of anger; for the atonement of sin committed by this unmindful act he went on a pilgrimage with his wife during Mahabharata War. The unethical way Bhima killed Durodhana made him angry, but Sri Krishna pacified him and averted a possible fight between him and Bhima.

When Yadavas fought with one another, Balarama sat in yoga and left the body in yogic way.