Page "Balarama" Paragraph 10

Balarama was born as a son of Vasudeva.

Kamsa, the brother of Devaki and an evil king, was intent upon killing all the children of his sister because of a prediction that he would die at the hands of her eighth son.

Kamsa thus threw his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva into prison, and proceeded to kill each of their children as they were born.

However, the seventh child was transferred miraculously from Devaki's womb to the womb of Vasudeva's other wife Rohini, who desired a child of her own.

Thus Balarama's other name is also Samkarshan which describes the transfer of the child from the womb.

Rohini gave birth to Balarama and raised him.

The child was formally named Rama, but because of his great strength he was called Balarama ( Strong Rama ), Baladeva or Balabhadra.

He was born under Shravana nakshatra on Shraavana Purnima or Raksha bandhan.