In Hinduism, Balin is the monkey-King of Kishkindhya and a son of Indra. He was killed by Rama, an avatar of Vishnu.
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth, Balin was a Dwarf leader, the son of Fundin. He was among the Dwarves that traveled with Bilbo and Gandalf in The Hobbit. Balin was the last leader of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm. He was killed at Moria after the Orcs invaded the dwarf-mines. In The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring discovers his tomb in the Chamber of Mazarbul.