| Rukmini | |
|---|---|
| Member ofAshtabharya[6] | |
 12th-13th century sculpture of Rukmini | |
| Other names |
|
| Devanagari | रूक्मिणी |
| Venerated in | Warkari,Haridasa |
| Affiliation |
|
| Abode | |
| Texts | Vishnu Purana,Bhagavata Purana,Mahabharata,Harivamsa,Rukminisha Vijaya,Skanda Purana,Padma Purana‚Brahma Vaivarta Purana‚Garga Samhita‚Garuda Purana,Gopala Tapani Upanishad,Yadavabhyudaya |
| Gender | Female |
| Festivals | Rukmini Ashtami,Vasanthotsavam,Ashadhi Ekadashi |
| Genealogy | |
| Born | |
| Died | |
| Parents |
|
| Siblings | Rukmi |
| Consort | Krishna |
| Children |
|
| Dynasty | Bhoja-Yaduvamsha-Chandravamsha (by birth) Vrishni-Yaduvamsha-Chandravamsha (by marriage) |
Rukmini (Sanskrit:रुक्मिणी,lit. 'radiant',IAST:Rukmiṇī) is aHindu goddess and the first queen ofKrishna.[7][8][9] She is described as the chief of Krishna's wives inDvaraka.[10][11][12] Rukmini is revered as theavatar ofLakshmi and is venerated primarily inWarkari,[13] andHaridasa tradition,[citation needed] and additionally inSri Vaishnavism.[14]
Rukmini is mainly worshipped inMaharashtra andSouth India. The people of Maharashtra venerate her withVithoba (a regional form of Krishna) and call herRakhumai.[15] In South India, she is worshipped along with Krishna and his other primary consortSatyabhama. Her birthday is celebrated every year on the occasion of Rukmini Ashtami.[16]
The nameRukmini is derived from theSanskrit wordRukma which means 'radiant', 'clear' or 'bright'.[17] The name can also mean 'decorated with gold ornaments'.[18][17] Other names and epithets include:
According to the epicMahabharata and otherPuranic scriptures, Princess Rukmini was born toBhishmaka—the king ofVidarbha kingdom, belonging to theBhoja dynasty.[20] She had five elder brothers—Rukmi, Rukmaratha, Rukmabahu, Rukmakesa and Rukmanetra.[21]Puranas such asVishnu Purana,Bhagavata Purana, andPadma Purana praise her as an incarnation of GoddessLakshmi, the wife of GodVishnu.[22]
TheBhagavata Purana narrates that Rukmini once heard aboutKrishna and his heroic deeds, such as slaying the tyrant kingKamsa, and opposing the evil kingJarasandha. She fell in love with him and desired to marry him. The episode ofRukmini Kalyanam, and the devotion of Rukmini towards her desired husband is narrated by the sageShuka to KingParikshit.[21][23]
Rukmini's parents rejoiced and gave their permission, but Rukmi – who was an ally of Jarasandha – strongly opposed it. Instead, he proposed that she marry his friendShishupala— the crown prince ofChedi Kingdom, and a cousin of Krishna.[22][24][a] Bhishmaka agreed, and a distressed Rukmini immediately sent for a trustedBrahmin and asked him to deliver a message toKrishna.[22] In the message, she wrote to Krishna about her love and asked him to abduct her when she visited the temple of GoddessAmbika (Parvati) before her wedding. Krishna, having received the message inDvaraka, told the messenger to inform Rukmini that he had received her letter and would come to make her his wife. Krishna then immediately set out for Vidarbha withBalarama, his elder brother.[24][25]
Meanwhile, in Vidarbha's capitalKundina, Bhishmaka had prepared for Rukmini's marriage. Rukmini grew anxious as she observed the host of kings, wondering if the Brahmin she had dispatched had not reached safely or not, and if the Almighty would assist her in her efforts. Her face grew pale and her thoughts grew distressed as she shunned herself from the rest of the world. Her sorrow of Krishna not having yet arrived to marry her yet was so immense that she refused to eat, sing to her parrot, or play her lyre.[26] Shishupala, along with his allies including Jarasandha had arrived. Krishna and Balarama had also arrived, and Bhishmaka welcomed them. At the palace, Rukmini had lost all hope, but the messenger turned up and informed that Krishna had accepted her request. The next day, she went to the temple to offer her prayers toAmbika. As she proceeded towards the wedding venue, she saw Krishna and he soon swept her into hischariot with him. All of Jarasandha's forces quickly started chasing them, but they were repulsed by Balarama and his army.[27] In an account slightly differing from that of theBhagavata Purana, in the play "Rukmini Horon" by the 15th-centuryAssamese playwrightSrimanta Sankaradeva,[28][29]Uddhava too accompanies Krishna in his campaign."[30]
Rukmi chased after Krishna and Rukmini.[31] He challenged Krishna to a fight, but was easily overpowered by the former. Rukmini begged Krishna to spare her brother's life, and the latter agreed. However, he shaved Rukmi's hair and moustache as a mark of punishment, and let him go free. Krishna and Rukmini reached Dvaraka, where they were welcomed with great pomp and ceremony, followed by a wedding.
TheBhagavata Purana describes an episode through the sageShuka where the yet unwed Rukmini takes a bejewelled whisk and starts fanning her prospective husband Krishna, wearing an expensive girdle and a dazzling necklace. Even though he is pleased, Krishna points to the fact that the princess had been desired by a number of handsome and energetic monarchs and states that he was not their equal, and that he had also almost lost his realm rescuing her. He remarks that she had not been far-sighted in choosing him as her groom and that she must now instead choose a Kshatriya like her. Rukmini's heart shuddered, her red nails scratched the floor, and tears flowed from her eyes that were decorated with collyrium. She fell to the floor, her hair dishevelled. Krishna swiftly raised her back to her feet and assures her that he was merely joking, as householders do with their beloved. Her fear of abandonment seeping away from her, the princess eulogises him, praising his glories and addressing him as heratman, her sense of self. Krishna praises her single-minded devotion to him.[32]
Though Krishna married many other women, Rukmini remained his chief consort and the queen of Dvaraka.[33] When she longed for a child, Krishna flew toKailash upon his mountGaruda, and expressed his wife's desire toShiva. Obliging, Shiva blessed Rukmini to be the bearer of the new incarnation ofKamadeva, whom he had previously immolated with his third eye. Thus wasPradyumna born.[34] Many scriptures have mentioned that Rukmini and other wives of Krishna lived like sisters.
TheBhagavata Purana andVishnu Purana states that Rukmini and Krishna had ten sons—Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Sudeshna, Charudeha, Sucharu, Charugupta, Bhadracharu, Charuchandra, Vicharu, and Charu.[35][22][36] In theHarivamsa, Rukmini's sons are Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Charuchandra, Charugarbha, Sudangstra, Druma, Sushena, Charugupta, Charuvinda, and Chharuvahu. A different listing is found inAnushasana Parva of theMahabharata, where Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Sucharu, Charuvesa, Yasodhana, Charusravas, Charuyasas, and Sambhu are Rukmini's sons.[22][37] Vishnu Puran also mentioned that Rukmini had a daughter named Charumati.[38][39]
According to a folktale ofOdisha, the divine sageNarada once arrived in Dvaraka and asked for Krishna to be given to him as alms. Krishna's 8 queens requested him to take anything else and Narada asked them to give wealth equal to Krishna's weight. They arranged for a big scale (Tulabharama) to be put up. Satyabhama put all of her coins, gems and jewellery on the scale, but it doesn't budge. Other wives gave their jewels, but it was of no use. At last, Rukmini came and put a single leaf ofTulasi on the scale and chanted that it represented her love for Krishna. The scales then became balanced. Though this story is absent in the main scriptures pertaining to Krishna's life, it is often repeated to enunciate the worth of Rukmini's love over Satyabhama's material wealth.[40] The only known versions of this story are fromPadma Purana andDevi Bhagvata Purana, where Satyabhama succeeds in weighing Krishna normally with gold items.[41]
In theBhagavata Purana, another well-known incident in Rukmini's married life is narrated. When Krishna's childhood friend,Sudama, visited Dvaraka, Rukmini welcomed Sudama and gave him food. She and Krishna fanned him as he rested from his long journey. This type of devotion is a characteristic of Rukmini, an attribute of her that is prevalent.[42]
According to theSkanda Purana, the famously short-tempered sageDurvasa met Krishna and Rukmini when he was on a pilgrimage. Durvasa asked the couple to be yoked onto his chariot while he held the reins. In the process of pulling the chariot forward, Rukmini grew exhausted and requested Krishna for water. Krishna struck his foot against the ground causing a spring of theGanga river to appear. Observing her quench her thirst without seeking his permission, the infuriated Durvasa cursed her to be separated from her beloved Krishna. Rukmini grew perturbed and started to cry. To pacify her, Krishna blessed her with the boon that if his devotees were to only see him and not her, they would receive only half the merit.[43][44]
Despite this consolation, Rukmini grew distressed due to her separation from her consort and fell unconscious. The sea-god and the sageNarada arrived to comfort her. Narada informed her that her husband - a manifestation ofVishnu - was theSupreme Being himself, he rhetorically wondered how she could expect to keep his company in an exclusive garden. The sea affirmed the divine sage's words, promising her that as the companion of Vishnu, she would always retain her permanence in his being. The goddessBhagirathi, the personification of the Ganga, produced a richly-endowed forest on the spot, laden with fruits and flowers, quickly to be frequented by the inhabitants of Dvaraka. Durvasa vengefully burnt the forest with his powers. Rukmini grew depressed and contemplated giving up her human form. Krishna arrived and stopped her. She felt ashamed and furious with herself even as her husband reassured her of his devotion. The repentant Durvasa begged Krishna to reunite with Rukmini, and the deity consented, blessing the sage with virtue as well as saluting the river Ganga, who then became the liberator of sorrows.[45][46]
After the disappearance of Krishna following theYadu massacre in theMausala Parva, Rukmini, along withJambavati, self-immolated herself on the funeral pyre.[47][48]
In many texts, theBrahman dispatched by Rukmini to request Krishna to elope with her on hersvayamvara describes the princess poetically as bearing beautiful hands, braided tresses, and a face that resembles the moon.[26] She is consistently described as beautiful in other accounts.[49]
Rukmini as mentioned in Hindu traditions, stands for the majesty and wealth of Krishna.Vadiraja Tirtha inRukminisha Vijaya, describes her as Krishna's supreme beloved consort.[50] In south Indian iconographic tradition, Rukmini, along withSatyabhama, appear as the primary consorts of Krishna.[51]
According to theVaikhanasagama, Rukmini should be depicted on the right side of Krishna, her image golden-yellow in complexion. Her hair is supposed to be tied up in a fashionable knot, and should also be adorned with flowers. Her right arm should be hanging down, and she should hold a lotus in her left hand.[52][53] She is supposed to be adorned with various ornaments.[54]
Rukmini inHinduism, is revered as the goddess of fortune, and mostly appears alongside her husband Krishna. An avtara ofLakshmi, she is the chief and most beloved consort of Krishna, in various scriptures and text of Hindu traditions.[55]
Rukmini finds her mention inGopala Tapani Upanishad (as Krishna's other consort),[57] in theGarga Samhita (as Queen of Dvaraka),[58] inBhagavata Purana (as Krishna's chief queen),[59] inBrahma Vaivarta Purana,[60] inHarivaṃśa that centres upon Dvaraka,[61] and inMahabharata, mainly in theAdi Parva and theMausala Parva.[62] Rukmini is the central character of the text,Rukminisha Vijaya, that talks about her and Krishna's life before marriage and ends with their marriage.[63] She also appears in theVishnu Purana andPadma Purana (as an avatar ofLakshmi).[64][65]
TheBrihad Bhagavatamrita offers the following adulations to Rukmini, identifying her with Lakshmi and Krishna as the Supreme God, the source of all avatars. It states that she assumes partialavatars to accompany Krishna's avatars likeVamana and serves Krishna as his "perfectly complete divine consort".[66] TheNarada Purana instructs a devotee on the manner of offering worship to Krishna, offering precedence to the role of Rukmini in his devotion. Rukmini is worshipped with Krishna on his left-hand side; she is equated withRajas.[67] TheSkanda Purana describes the process of the worship of the goddess with Krishna. A devotee is said to acquire wish fulfillment, male progeny and physical beauty by pleasing Rukmini.[68]
Rukmini's worship as the consort ofKrishna precedes his association with his other consortsRadha. According toD.C. Sircar, a sculpture from Paharpur in northern Bengal, attributed to the sixth or seventh century, represents Krishna and his consort, which he concludes is likely Rukmini. Her identification with Radha is rendered unlikely by the historian, since, "we have no undoubted reference to Radha in genuine epigraphic or literary records of an early date".[69][70][71]
Rukmini is mainly worshipped in west andsouth Indian states such asGujarat,Maharashtra,Karnataka,Goa,Andhra Pradesh,Telangana,Tamil Nadu, andKerala. Her kingdom, Vidarbha, is believed to be located in present-day Maharashtra. Along withVithoba (a regional form of Krishna), Rukmini is worshipped as "Rakhumai" in thePandharpur region.[72][27][73] Rukmini is worshipped as the chief goddess inDivya Desam temples likePandava Thoothar Perumal Temple,Parthasarathy Temple; with Krishna being the primary deity.[74] She is also worshipped with her co-wifeSatyabhama in temples likeThirukkavalampadi,Venugopalaswamy Temple andRajagopalaswamy Temple.[75]
Rukmini Ashtami is the occasion that celebrates the birth anniversary of Rukmini. It is observed on the eighth day of the waning moon in the Hindu lunar month ofPausha (December—January on the Common Era calendar). Rukmini is acknowledged with special pujas and rituals in all of the temples dedicated to Krishna, especially those in those parts of India, especially associated with him such as Mathura and Vrindavan.[16]
Vasanthotsavam is an annual Seva celebrated inTirumala to celebrate the arrival of spring season.[76]Abhishekam - specifically calledSnapana Thirumanjanam (Holy bathing), is performed to the utsava murthy and his consorts on all the three days. On the third day, abhishekam is performed to the idols ofRama,Sita,Lakshmana andHanumana along with Krishna and Rukmini. Procession of the consecrated idols are taken in a procession in the evening on all the three days.[77]
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TheMishmi people ofArunachal Pradesh believe that Rukmini belonged to their tribe. The plays and dances on 'Rukmini Haran' are common. There is a legend that Krishna asked the Mishmi people to cut their hair as a form of punishment for not allowing him to marry Rukmini. Due to this Idu-Mishmi people are also called "chulikata" (chuli-hair, kata- cut).[96]
_-_Krishna_Abducting_Rukmini_from_the_Temple_-_2009.481_-_Museum_of_Fine_Arts.jpg)
Rukmini's marriage to Krishna and related events have been depicted in theKangra painting andMandi painting.[97]
Oh, Sweet Rukhmai Divine Mother of Humanrace
"His father is pandurang and mother is rakhumai
Rakhumai-Mother Rukmini
Dvārakā's citizens were overjoyed to see Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of all opulence, united with Rukmiṇī, the goddess of fortune
Oh King all the citizens in Dvārakā were overjoyed to see Kṛṣṇa, the Master of All Opulence joined in marriage with Rukmiṇī, the goddess of fortune
The marriage was solemnized at Dwarakú, and Rukmini remained the chief of Krishna's wives
He had eight chief wives; the queen of all, Rukmini, had been betrothed to another, but on her marriage-day Krishna carried her off in a chariot and made her his own wife.
expressed a desire for as good a son as Rukmini, his chief consort, had.
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