Balarama in the Vishnu Temple
Balarama
The image shows a sculptural relief depicting a deity carrying a plow with his left hand and a lotus flower with his right hand. This deity most likely is Balarama, Krishna’s brother, because plow is part of Balarama’s iconography.
Flanked by two beautifully carved devatas (demigoddesses) and seated on an ornate throne with the padmasana pose, Balarama is appeared to be meditating. He is wearing a variety of jewelry, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and armlets. A looped thread, known as yajnopavita, hangs from his shoulder to the waist. Adorning his head is an intricately carved mukuta (crown) with a halo behind it.
This relief is carved on the walls of the Vishnu Temple in Prambanan, a Hindu temple complex located 11 miles northeast of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Although Prambanan is a Hindu temple complex, a strong Buddhist influence is seen in this relief.
Related Pages
– Prambanan, Borobudur, Bali, Indonesia
– Angkor Wat, Angkor Wat Bas-Reliefs, Banteay Srei, Cambodia
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