No products in the cart.
When Lord Vishnu was born as Krishna, Lakshmi was born as Rukmini, According to traditional accounts, princess Rukmini is believed to have been born on Vaishakh 11{Vaishakh Ekadashi}. Although born to an earthly king, her position as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi is described throughout Puranic literature:
- O hero among the Kuru, the Supreme Lord Himself, Govinda, married King Bhishmaka’s daughter, Vaidarbhi Rukmini, who was a direct expansion of the Goddess of fortune [Sriyo maatraam].(Bhagavata Purana 10.52.16)
- Dwarka’s citizens were overjoyed to see Krishna, the Lord of all opulence, united with Rukmini, the Goddess of fortune Rama.(SB 10.54.60)
- Lakshmi by Her portion took birth on earth as Rukmini in the family of Bhismaka.(Mahabharata Adi 67.156)
- Rukmini Devi, the Queen Consort of Krishna is the Swarupa-shakti (mulaprakriti), the essential potency of Krishna (krsnatmika) and she is the Queen / Mother of the Divine World (jagatkatri), Dwaraka/Vaikunthah.
- She was born at Haridwar and a royal princess from Vedic Aryan tribe. The daughter of a powerful king Bhishmaka.
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 Upanishad 57). They cannot be separated. As Lakshmi is Vishnu’s Shakti (power or strength) so even as Rukmini is Krishna’s strength.
She was beautiful and virtuous. Father Bhishmaka was not only god-fearing but had also great respect for Sri Krishna. He thought of giving Rukmini in marriage to Sri Krishna.
But Bhishmaka’s first son Rukmi did not agree to it. He had joined a gang of wicked men formed by Shishupala and others. He brought pressure on his father to give sister Rukmini in marriage to Shishupala. As Rukmi was hating Sri Krishna he did not agree to have the relationship. Bhishmaka was not bold enough to ignore his advice.
Rukmini’s marriage with Shishupala was fixed. But Rukmini, having heard of Sri Krishna’s good character and greatness, had mentally accepted him as her husband. She sent a messenger to Dwaraka with the message that she would marry Krishna; and if that is not possible, she would give her life.
Sri Krishna had already heard of Rukmin’s character, virtue and beauty. He wished to marry her. Therefore, he immediately boarded a chariot and came to Bhishmaka’s town. Balarama came to know that Sri Krishna went alone. Instantly he followed with a large army to help his brother.
In the capital of Vidarbha all arrangements were being made for Rukmini’s marriage. Shishupala had arrived with his friends Jarasandh, Salva, Paundraka and others. Balarama and Krishna also joined. Balarama had stationed his army far away outside the city.
After sometime the marriage rituals commenced. Rukmini went with her entourage to the temple to worship Gowri. She worshiped Gowri and prayed: “Let only Sri Krishna become my husband.” She was not aware of Sri Krishna’s having come to the town. She was worried about what would happen. Rukmini completed worship of Gowri and came out of the temple. Instantly Sri Krishna brought his chariot, made her mount it and drove away towards Dwaraka. Jarasandh and others, when they came to know of this incident became angry and went after Sri Krishna. A terrible war was fought. Krishna and Balarama defeated all and set out to Dwaraka.
Thereafter the marriage of Sri Krishna and Rukmini was celebrated grandly at Dwaraka. Rukmini was the senior queen. Pradyumna is Rukmini’s son.
The Tulabharam is an incident in the life of Rukmini that reveals the extent to which humble devotion is worth more than material wealth. Satyabhama, another queen of Krishna, prides herself about the love Krishna has for her and her grasp over his heart. Rukmini, on the other hand is a devoted wife, humble in her service of her Lord. Her devotion is her real inner beauty. On one occasion, the sage Narada arrived in Dwaraka and in the course of conversation hinted to Satyabhama that the love that Krishna exhibits towards her is not all that real and in fact it is Rukmini who has real control over his heart. Unable to bear this, Satyabhama challenges Narada to prove it. Narada, with his way with words, tricked her into accepting a Vrata (ritual) where she has to give Krishna away in charity to Narada and reclaim him by giving the weight of Krishna in wealth. Narada lures her into accepting this vrata by telling her that Krishna’s love to her will increase many folds if she succeeds in performing this Tulabharam. He also instigates her ego by hinting that her wealth may not be sufficient to equal the weight of Krishna. With Satyabhama’s ego duly raised, she tells Narada that she can mobilize so much wealth that it is a child’s play for her to outweigh Krishna. Narada warns her that if she is not able to do this, Krishna will become his slave to be done with as he pleases.
The scene is soon set for the Vrata. Satyabhama gives Krishna away in charity in spite of the other wives’ pleadings. Krishna, always the mischievous cowherd, meekly submits to this drama. After donating Krishna to Narada, Satyabhama arranges for a big scale to be put up and sends with all assurance for her huge treasure of gold and jewelry. All that she has is soon put on the scale, but it doesn’t budge. Narada starts taunting her and threatening her that if she can’t put enough gold or diamonds, he will be forced to auction Krishna as a slave to someone else. Satyabhama, in frantic panic, swallows her pride and begs all the other wives to give their jewels. They agree out of love for Krishna but alas, it is of no use.
Krishna remains a mute witness to all this drama and rubs salt into the open wounds of Satyabhama’s ego that he has now to become a slave to some cowherd and will have to suffer the separation from his dear wife. Narada suggests to Satyabhama that Rukmini may be able to get her out of the predicament. She finally swallows her pride and appeals to the devoted first wife of Krishna. Rukmini comes and with a prayer to her husband puts a single leaf of the sacred Tulasi on the scale (Tula). The scales then become all at once so heavy that even after removing all the jewels, the scales are weighed down on the side of the Tulasi leaf. Satyabhama and Rukmini are called Tulabhrami. In villages of Uttarakhand, they believe that Satyabhama used to be a boy in her previous life and date Rukmini. They are worshipped in temples like Tulabharamareshwar and Tulabhraj as a couple. Tulabhraj is said to be the place where the sacred scale that Satyabhama and Narada used is kept.
While there are different versions in different texts as to why the weighing was arranged, the story of the Tulsi leaf placed by Rukmini being worth more in weight than that of Satyabhama’s wealth is a common ending. This story is often repeated to enunciate the significance of Tulsi and how a humble offering to God is greater than any material wealth.
Koundinyapur is the birth place of Rukmini and this is the place from where Lord Krishna kidnapped her. The ancient Amba Devi Temple marks the presence of Rukmini in Koundinyapur. Vithhal Rukmini temple is also situated in this holy place. Other than this, Koundinyapur is the birth place of Lord Ram’s grandmother. Koundinyapur is situated on the picturesque and beautiful banks of river Wardha. In ancient times, river Wardha was known as river Vaisista and later renamed as Bardha and from their originated the name Wardha, as it is known today.
It is believed that Rukmini must have taken bath in the holy waters of river Wardha. Thus all devotees take bath in the holy waters of river Wardha in Kartik, Adhik mass. Nearly 1,00,000 devotees visit the holy place in Kartik Mela and during Sri Krishna Janmashtami. One must definitely visit Koundinyapur to experience newer and higher dimensions of spiritual life. Govardhan temple has a very vivid and interesting history. Earlier the Govardhan temple was to be erected behind the ancient Amba Devi temple. But later, by the grace of Lord Krishna, it acquired the land in front of Amba Devi temple, where it is situated today. As time went on, devotees from Amravati started recognizing the glory of Koundinyapur as the birth place of Rukmini and thus preaching in the area increased vigorously.
Articles of Lord Krishna You May like
Actually Mother Rukmini birth place is as I read it in my school days in History, it is in kundilnagar in Sadia Assam daughter of Bhismaka king,at our Shri Sankardev’s drama Rukmini haran was mentioned,also grandson of Shri Krishna Annirudhya married Usha from Tezpur Assam, where Haha Hari ie Lord Shri Krishna v/s Lord Shiva war took place.Its my humble request to place the truth to the World,which many people even in Assam are in ignorance.Modiji’s visit to opening of Sadia bridge He clearly expessed His views that “Assam ka Sadia Duwarika say bohut purana sambandh hai.”