Lakshmana (Krishna's wife)

Lakshmana
Ashtabharya with Krishna - 19th Century Mysore painting depicting Krishna with his eight principal consorts
Information
Spouse(s)	Krishna

Lakshmana or Lakshana is the sixth of the Ashtabharya, the eight principal queen-consorts of Hindu God Krishna, an avatar of the God Vishnu and the king of Dwarka - in the Dwapara Yuga (epoch).

The Bhagavata Purana mentions Lakshmana, who is endowed with good qualities, as the daughter of an unnamed ruler of the kingdom of Madra. The Padma Purana specifics the name of the king of Madra as Brihatsena. Lakshmana describes Brihatsena to be a good veena player in a dialogue. Some texts give her the epithet Madri or Madraa ("of Madra"). However, the Vishnu Purana includes Lakshmana in the Ashtabharya list, but mentions another queen Madri, who is explicitly mentioned as the princess of Madra. The lineage of Lakshmana is not alluded to in the text. The text also calls her Charuhasini, one with a lovely smile. The Harivamsa also calls her Charuhasini, but is not associated with Madra and another queen called Madri or Subhima is mentioned like the Vishnu Purana.

Lakshmana's father had organized a Swayamvara ceremony, in which a bride chooses a groom from assembled suitors. The Bhagavata Purana mentions that Krishna abducts Lakshmana from the swayamvara, just like the bird-man Garuda had stolen the jar of the elixir of life (amrita) from the gods. Another tale describes how Krishna wins Lakshmana in the swayamvara, by acing an archery contest. The kings Jarasandha and Duryodhana miss the target. The Pandava prince and Krishna's cousin Arjuna, described as the best archer at times, missed his aim at the target with the arrow so that Krishna could win the hand of Lakshmana. Arjuna's brother Bhima refused to participate in deference to Krishna. Ultimately, Krishna wins by hitting the target. Krishna and his queens once visited Hastinapur to meet the Pandavas and their common wife Draupadi. The proud and shy Lakshmana tells Draupadi that her marriage was also very exciting and narrates its tale.