balarama
|ba-la-ra-ma|
/bəˈlɑːrəmə/
Hindu deity; Krishna's elder brother; strength/agriculture
Etymology
'balarama' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word 'Balarāma', where 'bala' meant 'strength' or 'young' and 'rāma' was an element meaning 'pleasing' or used as a theonym.
'Balarāma' passed from classical Sanskrit into regional Prakrit and medieval devotional traditions; the form was carried into English via scholarly and colonial-era transliteration and modern usage as 'Balarama'.
Initially it referred specifically to the Sanskrit name of the deity with connotations of 'young/strong Rama'; in modern English it remains the proper name of that Hindu deity with the same cultural associations.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in Hinduism, Balarama is the elder brother of Krishna, a deity associated with strength, agriculture, and often depicted with a plough; also called Baladeva or Balabhadra.
Balarama is worshipped in many regions as a symbol of strength and agriculture.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/04 08:23