Balarama

Balarama, also called Baladeva or Halayudha, is a major figure in Hinduism. He is traditionally regarded as the elder brother of Krishna and as an avatar of Shesha, the cosmic serpent; in some traditions he is described as an incarnation of Vishnu's first expansion. In birth legends, he is commonly said to be the son of Vasudeva and Rohini, though some accounts recount that his embryo was transferred from Devaki’s womb to Rohini’s to protect him from Kamsa.

Balarama is typically depicted with a plough (hala), his primary weapon, symbolizing agriculture and strength. He is sometimes shown with a club or staff and is usually represented with pale or white skin in contrast to Krishna's blue.

Balarama appears prominently in the Bhagavata Purana and other Vaishnava texts, where he grows up with Krishna in Vrindavana and acts as their elder brother and mentor. He accompanies Krishna on his later adventures and participates in episodes that reinforce dharma and devotion. In the Mahabharata tradition, he is remembered as a mighty warrior and a respected elder who mediates and supports the Yadava lineage before the Kurukshetra war.

Balarama is venerated across many Vaishnava communities. In the Jagannath tradition of Odisha, he is known as Balabhadra and forms part of the triad with Jagannath (Krishna) and Subhadra; his festival and iconography are central to several regional rites, including Ratha Yatra.

His associations with agriculture, strength, and dharma position him as a companion figure to Krishna in early legends. He remains an important devotional and mythological figure within Hinduism, with regional cults and iconography that reflect diverse traditions.