KarmaVaani
Vaishnava tradition
बलरामBalarama
Baladeva · Balabhadra · Haladhara · Sankarshana
Krishna's elder brother, of great strength, who carries a plough.
- Abode
- Dwarka; Vrindavan
- Consort
- Revati
- Vahana
- None
- Colour
- White
- Arms
- 2
Balarama is Krishna's elder brother, fair where Krishna is dark, a figure of enormous strength and an easy temper. He carries a plough, the sign of farming, and is honoured by farmers. Some count him an avatar of Vishnu, others an incarnation of the serpent Shesha. At Puri he is worshipped as Balabhadra beside Jagannath.
Mantra
ॐ बलभद्राय नमः
Om Balabhadraya Namaha
Salutations to Balabhadra, the strong and gracious.
How Balarama is shown
A fair, strong figure in blue cloth carrying a plough over his shoulder.
- Hala (plough)
- Farming, and the cultivation of the earth.
- Musala (pestle-club)
- Strength.
- Serpent hood behind him
- His identity with Shesha.
Stories
The Yamuna drawn by the plough
When the river Yamuna would not come near when called, Balarama hooked her with his plough and pulled her to him until she relented. Villagers still show the place where her course bends.
