Hari (yellowish brown)

Minor incarnation of the god VISˇNU. Hindu (Epic and Puranic). Popularized by modern religious movements, Hari is one of the sons of the god DHARMA who sprang from the heart of BRAHMA. He is most closely linked with KRSNA, but he and Krsna also parallel Dharma’s other sons, NARA and NARAYANA. Hari can be a more generic epithet applied to several Hindu gods.

Balarama (strength of Rama)

Incarnation of the god VISˇNU. Hindu (Epic and Puranic). May have originated in Vedic times as an agricultural fertility deity. He is the son of VASUDEVA and DEVAKI, though born from the womb of ROHINI. Jointly with KRSNA (his brother), he is identified as the eighth avatara (incarnation) of Visˇnu, or, with RAMA, as the seventh. Legend describes how Visˇnu impregnated the belly of the goddess Devaki with two hairs, one black, one white. To ensure their safety against a demon king, they were transferred before birth to Rohini. Krsna grew to be dark-skinned, and Balarama light. The latter enjoys similar characteristics to Krsna but fails to attract the same popularity. He is usually depicted on the right side of Krsna, rarely standing alone. The consort of Balarama is REVATI and his sons are Nisatha and Ulmuka. Epithets included Ananda (joy). In Jainism he is known as Baladeva.

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