Rukmini
| Rukmini Rukmani |
|
|---|---|
| Fortune | |
|
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| Devanagari | रूक्मिणी, रूकमणी |
| Sanskrit transliteration | Rukmiṇī |
| Affiliation | Form of Devi and Lakshmi |
| Abode | Dwaraka |
| Planet | Mars (west) |
| Consort | Lord Krishna |
| Children |
Pradyumna Charudeshna Sudesna Charudeha Sucharu Charugupta Bhadracharu Charuchandra Vicharu Charu |
Rukmini (or Rukmani) is the principal wife and queen of the God Krishna, the king of Dwaraka. Krishna heroically kidnapped her and eloped with her to prevent an unwanted marriage at her request and saved her from evil Shishupala(described in the Bhagavata Purana). Rukmini is the first and most prominent queen of Krishna. Rukmini is also considered an avatar of Lakshmi, the Goddess of fortune.
According to traditional accounts, princess Rukmini is believed to have been born on Vaishakha 11{Vaishakh Ekadashi}. Although born of an earthly king, her position as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi is described throughout Puranic literature:
The Shrutis which are closely associated with the narrations of the pastimes of the Vraja-gopis with svayam-rupa Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the Parabrahma, have declared this truth(Gopala-tapani Upanisad 57). They cannot be separated. As Lakshmi is Vishnu's Shakti(power or strength) so even as Rukmini is Krishna's strength.
Rukmini was the daughter of Bhishmaka, the king of Vidarbha. Bhismaka was the vassal of King Jarasandha of Magadha. She fell in love with and longed for Krishna, whose virtue, character, charm and greatness she had heard much of. Rukmini's eldest brother Rukmi though was a friend of evil King Kansa, who was killed by Krishna and was set against the marriage.
According to the Mahabharat and the Puranas, It is said that if there was any one woman just as beautiful and virtuous as Andal was, it was Rukmini.
Rukmini's parents wanted to marry Rukmini to Krishna but Rukmi, her brother strongly opposed it. Rukmi was an ambitious prince and he did not want to earn the wrath of Emperor Jarasandha, who was ruthless. Instead, he proposed that she be married to his friend Shishupala, the crown prince of Chedi. Shishupala was also a vassal and close associate of Jarasandha and hence an ally of Rukmi.
Bhishmaka gave in but Rukmini, who had overheard the conversation was horrified and immediately sent for a brahmana, Sunanda, whom she trusted and asked him to deliver a letter to Krishna. She asked Krishna to come to Vidarbha and kidnap her to avoid a battle where her relatives may be killed. She suggested that he do this when she was on her way to the temple or back. Rukmini asked that he claim her to marry her. Krishna, having received the message in Dwarka, immediately set out for Vidarbha with Balarama, his elder brother.
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