Who was the elder brother of Krishna?

Balarama was the elder brother of Krishna. He is also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra, Haladhara, and Sankarshana, and is celebrated for his immense strength and his association with the plough.

According to Hindu tradition, Balarama was born to Vasudeva and Devaki, but his embryo was mystically transferred to the womb of Rohini to protect him from the tyrant Kamsa. He and Krishna were raised together in the cowherd community of Gokula and Vrindavan, where they faced demons and other dangers sent by Kamsa.

Balarama’s plough and mace are his defining weapons. He is linked with agriculture and physical strength, while Krishna is especially associated with divine wisdom, kingship, and the Bhagavad Gita. Balarama later married Revati and became an important figure in the Yadava tradition.

Subhadra was Balarama and Krishna’s sister, not Krishna’s elder sibling. Nanda was Krishna’s foster father, and Vasudeva was his biological father. In the Jagannath tradition, Balarama appears as Balabhadra alongside Krishna and Subhadra.