thumb|Late 19th century lithograph from Bengal depicting Krishna & Balarama. Instead of the plough, Balarama holds a bugle made out of buffalo-horn, a characteristic of Shaiva ascetics, based on the description of Nityananda, who is revered by Gaudiya Vaishnavas as Balarama's incarnation.
thumb|late 19th century lithograph from bengal depicting krishna & balarama instead of the plough balarama holds a bugle made out of buffalo-horn a characteristic of shaiva ascetics based on the description of nityananda who is revered by gaudiya vaishnavas as balarama's incarnation