Rukmini, the forgotten goddess

The story of how Rukmini came to be Lord Krishna's wife.

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Whether it is the jet-black idol or the ivory-white statue adorned with silk, colour and jewels, the one accompanying Lord Krishna is always Radha. With just one temple dedicated in Dwarka as an ode to Rukmini, the only companion that behests her presence are the number of tourists and priests of the temple.

Whilst the love story of Radha and Krishna is praised far and wide, the story of Rukmini and Krishna is often overlooked and easily forgotten. From popular culture to emphasis on festivities, it is the idol of Radha and Krishna that are glorified and embellished with flowers.

The daughter of Bhishmaka, the king of Vidharbha, Rukmini was the picture of virtue and kindness. Having heard tales of the Lord’s glory and feat from a sage, she was enticed by his qualities and abilities to quite an extent. Entranced by the detailed account provided by the sage, it wasn’t long before Rukmini visualized the Lord and decided to marry him for all his attributes. The only thorn in her story, however, was her brother.

An alias of Jarasandha, Rukmini’s brother wanted her to marry an associate of Jarsandha, who just so happened to be an enemy of Lord Krishna. Aghast by the idea of marrying anyone but the man she had actualized from stories, Rukmini wrote a heartfelt letter to Lord Krishna and asked it to be delivered by the very sage who told her the stories. The magnificent devotion and honesty reflected in her letter moved Lord Krishna to such an extent that he immediately left for Vidharba with his brother Balarama.

And so, their plan of elopement came into motion. As Rukmini waited anxiously to head to the Indrani temple, Lord Krishna came in his chariot to take her away. Even when an infuriated Jarasandha and his army followed the two, they were unsuccessful at catching them. The whole ordeal may sound like the climax of a cliche Bollywood movie, but it stands a testament to the kind of adoration Rukmini had for her beloved.

source: IndiTales.com

For Rukmini, her love wasn’t motivated by her nearness to the Lord or even his physical traits. Just the qualitative features of the Lord himself were enough for her to see Him as her beloved. Even as the true reincarnation of Laxmi, on Earth, she had to be separated from her husband even after marriage.

The curse of Rukmini that ultimately led to her separation from the Lord came through Rishi Durvasa. Whilst pulling Durvasa’s chariot, Rukmini was parched and so ended up drinking water without offering a sip to her guest, Rishi Durvasa. So angry was the sage that he cursed her to be separated from her husband which is why even today, the only temple of Rukmini can be found outside Dwarka.

The demise of Rukmini came to post the Yadu massacre as mentioned in the Mausala Parva. It is believed that Rukmini had immolated herself on the funeral pyre with Jambavati. The crux of the matter remains that the dear and dutiful wife, much like Sita suffered a fate too unfair.