Editing Rukmini (section)

==Legends==
===Birth===
According to the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and other ''[[Puranic]]'' scriptures, Princess Rukmini was born to [[Bhishmaka]]—the king of [[Vidarbha]] kingdom, belonging to the [[Bhoja tribe|Bhoja]] dynasty.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=138}} She had five elder brothers—[[Rukmi]], Rukmaratha, Rukmabahu, Rukmakesa and Rukmanetra.<ref name=":0" /> [[Puranas]] such as ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'', ''[[Bhagavata Purana]],'' and ''[[Padma Purana]]'' praise her as an incarnation of Goddess [[Lakshmi]], the wife of God [[Vishnu]].<ref name="Mani">{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/657/mode/2up|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts – University of Toronto|page=657|isbn=9780842608220 }}</ref>

===Marriage to Krishna===
[[File:Krsna Takes Rukmini Away from Devi Shrine.jpg|thumb|A painting depicting Rukmini eloping with Krishna from a temple of Ambika ([[Parvati]]).]]

In the [[Harivamsa]], a supplement to Mahabharata, (Vishnu Parva, Chapter 59, Verse 35-40), it is stated about Rukmini that {{block quote|"Her lips, eyes and the corners were coppery, thighs, hips and breast were plump, her body was tall but thin and beautiful; her countenance was like the moon, her nails were red; eye-brows were charming, hairs were curling and black and her beauty was highly picturesque. Her face was beautified by rows of equal and white teeth."<ref>{{Cite web |title=A PROSE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF HARIVAMSHA. |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/61937/61937-h/61937-h.htm#chapter-cxvvi-an-account-of-rukshmi-krishna-takes-away-rukshmini |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=www.gutenberg.org}}</ref>{{secondary source needed|date=November 2024}}}} However, according to another translation of the [[Harivamsa Purana]] text by [[Gita Press]] in Hindi, Rukimini's age when Krishna first sees her and later elopes with her she is described as being sixteen in the commentary and the translation but this is not stated in the original [[Sanskrit]] text. According to the [[Skanda Purana]], Rukmini was eight years old when she married Krishna. Her father had a dream when his daughter was born she would marry a being with four arms when Rukmini was eight he had announced that she was ready for marriage, and that she was set to marry [[Shishupala]] the crown prince of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]], but Rukmini did not wish to marry [[Shishupala]] this is when she wrote a letter to [[Krishna]] to save her. It was during this time that [[Krishna]] came and eloped with and then married her.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-10-22 |title=The Greatness of Rukmiṇī Tīrtha [Chapter 142] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc425871.html |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Harivamsha Purana (Supplement to Mahabharata)|url=https://archive.org/details/harivamshapurana/page/n466/mode/1up|year=2014|publisher=Gita Press|pages=1169}}</ref> {{secondary source needed|date=November 2024}}

According to another translation of the [[Harivamsha Purana]] by [[Manmatha Nath Dutt]], Rukimini's age is not stated. {{block quote|"Krishna saw, near the temple, Rukshmini, the best of beauties, like unto the burning flame of fire, as if she were the goddess of illusions descended on earth, or the goddess earth herself coming out of the nether region, or the very goddess Shri (the goddess of prosperity) the foremost of damsels, gentle like the rays of the moon, and separated from her lotus, coming down on earth as his wife. That damsel of dark-blue hue and large eyes, Rukshmini, was seated on a car. And though the gods even could not see her with their mind Krishna could see her. Her lips, eyes and the corners were coppery, thighs, hips and breast were plump, her body was tall but thin and beautiful; her countenance was like the moon, her nails were red; eye-brows were charming, hairs were curling and black and her beauty was highly picturesque. Her face was beautified by rows of equal and white teeth. Seeing the beautiful Rukshmini, the foremost of damsels, clad in a blue raiment, matchless in the world at that time for her beauty, fame and grace Krishna’s desire grew powerful like fire to which clarified butter is offered and his mind was attracted by her. Thereupon consulting with Rama before the Vrishnis he made up his mind for stealing her away." (Vishnu Parva, Chapter 60, Verse 35-44)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/harivamsha-purana-dutt/d/doc485601.html | title=An Account of Rukshmi: Krishna Takes Away Rukshmini &#91;Chapter 60&#93; | date=14 November 2020 }}</ref>}}

It is stated in the [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]] (Krishna Janma Khanda, Chapter 105, Verses 9–14) she had reached [[puberty]] and was ready for marriage according to her father.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.veducation.world/library/Sastra-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0/purana/brahma-vaivarta-purana/brahma-vaivarta-purana-english | title=Veducation Library : Read Sanatan Shastras Online }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Brahma Vaivarta Purana|url=https://archive.org/details/brahma-vaivarta-purana-all-four-kandas-english-translation/page/648/mode/2up|year=2003|publisher=Chaukamba Publications|pages=648}}</ref> {{secondary source needed|date=November 2024}}

In the [[Bhagavata Purana]] (Dasama Skandha, Chapter 53, Verse 51), she has been described as having budding breasts.<ref>{{cite book|title=Shrimad Bhagavata Purana (Nepali)|url=https://archive.org/details/shreemad-bhagwat-mahapuran/page/n4491/mode/2up|year=1955|publisher=Gita Press|pages=4492}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Shrimad Bhagavatam|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/53/51-55/|date=1970|publisher=Bhaktivedanta Book Trust|page=4491}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/ | title=Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-bhagavata-purana | title=Bhagavata Purana | date=27 May 2022 }}</ref>{{secondary source needed|date=November 2024}}

The ''Bhagavata Purana'' narrates that Rukmini once heard about [[Krishna]] and his heroic deeds, such as slaying the tyrant king [[Kamsa]], and opposing the evil king [[Jarasandha]]. She fell in love with him and desired to marry him. The episode of ''Rukmini Kalyanam,'' and the devotion of Rukmini towards her desired husband is narrated by the sage [[Shuka]] to King [[Parikshit]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Ayyar |first=P. V. Jagadisa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&dq=rukmini+purana&pg=PA29 |title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated |date=1982 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0151-2 |pages=29 |language=en}}</ref>

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 friend [[Shishupala]]— the crown prince of [[Chedi Kingdom]], and a cousin of Krishna.<ref name="Mani" /><ref name="Ch51">{{Cite web|title=CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/52/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=vedabase.io|language=en}}</ref>{{efn|Shishupala was also a vassal and close associate of Jarasandha and hence an ally of Rukmi.}} Bhishmaka agreed, and a distressed Rukmini immediately sent for a trusted [[Brahmin]] and asked him to deliver a message to [[Krishna]].<ref name="Mani" /> In the message, she wrote to Krishna about her love and asked him to abduct her when she visited the temple of Goddess [[Ambika (goddess)|Ambika]] ([[Parvati]]) before her wedding. Krishna, having received the message in [[Dvārakā|Dvaraka]], 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 with [[Balarama]], his elder brother.<ref name="Ch51" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ayyar |first=P. V. Jagadisa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&dq=rukmini+purana&pg=PA29 |title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated |date=1982 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0151-2 |pages=32 |language=en}}</ref>

Meanwhile, in Vidarbha's capital [[Kundina]], 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.<ref name="Ayyar 1982 332"/> 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 to [[Ambika (goddess)|Ambika]]. As she proceeded towards the wedding venue, she saw Krishna and he soon swept her into his [[chariot]] with him. All of Jarasandha's forces quickly started chasing them, but they were repulsed by Balarama and his army.<ref name = "Shyam" />
<!---In an account slightly differing from that of the [[Bhagavat Purana]], in the play "Rukmini Horon" by the 15th-century [[Assamese Language|Assamese]] playwright [[Sankardev|Srimanta Sankaradeva]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Neog|first=Maheswar|title=Early History of the Vaiṣṇava Faith and Movement in Assam: Śaṅkaradeva and His Times|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|year=1980|location=Delhi|pages=162–207}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Rajan|first=Anjana|date=10 November 2017|title=Beyond the nine rasas|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/beyond-the-nine-rasas/article20033870.ece|access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref> [[Uddhava]] too accompanies Krishna in his campaign."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kashyap|first=Uruli|date=10 September 2018|title=''Rukmini Horon natot natyokar Srimanta Sankardevor moulikota''|url=https://nilacharai.com/rukmini-haran-naatat-srimanta-sankardevar-moulikata/|url-status=live|access-date=22 May 2021|website=Nila Charai}}</ref>--->
Rukmi chased after Krishna and Rukmini.<ref name="bg">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Kathiawar (Public Domain text)|url=https://archive.org/details/1884GazetteerByBombayPresidencyVol8Kathiawar349D|year=1884|publisher=Printed at the Government Central Press, Bombay|volume=VIII|pages=380–381}}</ref> 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 Shishupala'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.

[[File:Indian School, late 18th century - The marriage of Krishna and Rukmini. - RCIN 1005113.w - Royal Collection.jpg|thumb|upright|Late 18th century painting of the wedding of [[Krishna]] and Rukmini]]

===Krishna's ruse===
The [[Bhagavata Purana]] describes an episode through the sage [[Shuka]] 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 her [[Ātman (Hinduism)|atman]], her sense of self. Krishna praises her single-minded devotion to him.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HUSCDwAAQBAJ&dq=rukmini+lotus-eyed&pg=PT211 |title=The Bhagavata Purana 3 |date=2019-01-21 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5305-380-2 |language=en |chapter=Chapter 10(58)}}</ref>

===Married life and children===
[[File:Vittala Rakhumai Thennangur.jpg|thumb|309x309px|Statue of Vittala Rakhumai, Thennangur]]
Though Krishna married many other women, Rukmini remained his chief consort and the queen of Dvaraka.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gSsqAAAAYAAJ&q=rukmini+chief+consort+krishna |title=Books 8-12: Krishna, spirit of delight|date=1976 |publisher=Vighneswara Publishing House |pages=740 |language=en |quote="Rukmini : Chief consort of Krishna"}}</ref> When she longed for a child, Krishna flew to [[Mount Kailash|Kailash]] upon his mount [[Garuda]], and expressed his wife's desire to [[Shiva]]. Obliging, Shiva blessed Rukmini to be the bearer of the new incarnation of [[Kamadeva]], whom he had previously immolated with his third eye. Thus was [[Pradyumna]] born.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mani |first=Vettam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&dq=rukmini+dvaraka&pg=PA594 |title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |date=2015-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0597-2 |pages=594 |language=en}}</ref> Many scriptures have mentioned that Rukmini and other wives of Krishna lived like sisters.

The [[Bhagavata Purana]] and [[Vishnu Purana]] states that Rukmini and Krishna had ten sons—[[Pradyumna]], Charudeshna, Sudeshna, Charudeha, Sucharu, Charugupta, Bhadracharu, Charuchandra, Vicharu, and Charu.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gita Press Gorakhpur |url=https://archive.org/details/vishnu-puran_202204/page/n399/mode/1up |title=Vishnu Puran |pages=389 |language=Hindi}}</ref><ref name = "Mani" /><ref name = "Sinha" >{{Cite book|last=Sinha|first=Purnendu Narayana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OveYh2v-1roC&q=sons+of+krishna&pg=PT691|title=A Study of the Bhagavata Purana: Or, Esoteric Hinduism|date=1950|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2506-2|language=en}}</ref> In the ''[[Harivamsa]]'', Rukmini's sons are Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Charuchandra, Charugarbha, Sudangstra, Druma, Sushena, Charugupta, Charuvinda, and Chharuvahu. A different listing is found in ''[[Anushasana Parva]]'' of the ''Mahabharata'', where Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Sucharu, Charuvesa, Yasodhana, Charusravas, Charuyasas, and Sambhu are Rukmini's sons.<ref name = "Mani" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasana Parva: Anusasanika Parva: Section XIV|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13a014.htm|access-date=2021-06-18|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Vishnu Puran also mentioned that Rukmini had a daughter named Charumati.<ref name="Dalal">{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&q=Rukmini|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gita Press Gorakhpur |url=https://archive.org/details/vishnu-puran_202204/page/n399/mode/1up |title=Vishnu Puran |pages=389}}</ref>

===Tale of the scales===
According to a folktale of [[Odisha]], the divine sage [[Narada]] 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 of [[Tulsi in Hinduism|Tulasi]] 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.<ref>{{cite book|author=Devdutt Pattanaik|title=The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rjL3ogbdJNkC|date=September 2000|publisher=Inner Traditions/Bear|isbn=9780892818075|pages=27}}</ref> The only known versions of this story are from [[Padma Purana]] and [[Devi-Bhagavata Purana|Devi Bhagvata Purana]], where Satyabhama succeeds in weighing Krishna normally with gold items.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UbSgAAAAMAAJ&dq=rukmini+worship&pg=PA231 |title=Calcutta Review |date=1905 |publisher=University of Calcutta |pages=231 |language=en}}</ref>

===Meeting Sudama===
In the ''Bhagavata 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.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=437}}

{{Vaishnavism}}

===Durvasa's curse===
According to the [[Skanda Purana]], the famously short-tempered sage [[Durvasa]] 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 the [[Ganges|Ganga]] 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.<ref>{{Cite book |first=GV |last=Tagore |title=Skanda Purana |year=1950}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-16 |title=Durvāsā cursing Rukmiṇī [Chapter 2] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc627241.html |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

Despite this consolation, Rukmini grew distressed due to her separation from her consort and fell unconscious. The sea-god and the sage [[Narada]] arrived to comfort her. Narada informed her that her husband - a manifestation of [[Vishnu]] - was the [[Brahman|Supreme 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 goddess [[Ganga (goddess)|Bhagirathi]], 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tagore |first=GV |title=Skanda Purana |pages=Chapter 3, Verses 6–84}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-16 |title=Relief of Rukmiṇī [Chapter 3] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc627242.html |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

===Death===
After the disappearance of Krishna following the Yadu massacre in the [[Mausala Parva]], Rukmini, along with [[Jambavati]], self-immolated herself on the funeral pyre.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m16/m16007.htm Dio Mahabharate.] „''Rukmini, the princess of Gandhara, Saivya, Haimavati, and queen Jamvabati ascended the funeral pyre''."</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Vijayakumar|first=Lakshmi|date=2004-01-01|title=Altruistic Suicide in India|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/13811110490243804|journal=Archives of Suicide Research|volume=8|issue=1|pages=73–80|doi=10.1080/13811110490243804|issn=1381-1118|pmid=16006390|s2cid=41567060}}</ref>