<em>Relief Tile Depicting Balarama Abducted by the Demon Pralamba</em>, 5th century. Terracotta, traces of polychromy, 22 x 15 1/2 x 6 1/4 in., 27.5 lb. (55.9 x 39.4 x 15.9 cm, 12.47kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Gwenn Miller in memory of Barbara Stoler Miller, 2018.42.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, L1998.2.1_PS2.jpg)

Relief Tile Depicting Balarama Abducted by the Demon Pralamba

Medium: Terracotta, traces of polychromy

Geograhical Locations:

Dates:5th century

Dimensions: 22 x 15 1/2 x 6 1/4 in., 27.5 lb. (55.9 x 39.4 x 15.9 cm, 12.47kg) mount: 22 × 14 1/2 × 5 in. (55.9 × 36.8 × 12.7 cm)

Collections:

Museum Location: Asian Galleries, Arts of South Asia, 2nd floor

Exhibitions:

Accession Number: 2018.42.1

Image: L1998.2.1_PS2.jpg,

Catalogue Description:
Male sitting astride the shoulders of a demon dwarf. The pair appear to depict the story of Balarama (an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu and the brother of Krishna) subduing the whirlwind demon, Pralamba. Pralamba attempted to abduct Balarama by using his form as a tornado to lift him into the sky, but the deity made himself heavy and eventually grounded the demon.

Brooklyn Museum