When (what age) did Rukmini fall in love with Shri Krishna? How long did she have to wait for him?

 According to Harivamsa Purana, Mata Rukmini was 16 when she married Bhagwan Sri Krishna.

“She who was difficult to be seen even by devas, was seen by Krishna with his mind. She was of sixteen years old. She was of white complexion. Her eyes were long and beautiful.”

Source : BORI CE Mahabharata Vishnu Parva

This is what Padma Puran says :

The beautiful-faced (Rukmiṇī) did not want Śiśupala as her husband. She, of a firm vow, was attached to Viṣṇu from her childhood. That virgin Rukmiṇī, dedicated to Viṣṇu, always worshipped the deities and gave various presents (to brāhmaṇas). Highly devoted to practising vows, and thinking of Viṣṇu, the lord of the soul, as her husband, she lived in her father’s house. Through his intelligent son Rukmin, the best king tried to get her married to Śiśupāla.

Ref: Pādma Purana Section 6 Ch 247 ( Debashis

Both Bhagwan Sri Krishna and Mata Rukmini loved each other.

Bhagwan Sri Krishna knew that Mata Rukmini is possessed of unrivalled beauty and uncountable virtues and hence he knew that she would be an ideal wife.

Lord Kṛṣṇa knew that Rukmiṇī possessed intelligence, auspicious bodily markings, magnanimity, beauty, proper behavior and all other good qualities. Concluding that she would be an ideal wife for Him, He made up His mind to marry her.

Source : Srimad Bhagwatam Canto 10 ch 52

Mata Rukmini in her letter herself admitted her love for Bhagwan Sri Krishna. She had fallen in love with Bhagwan Sri Krishna as soon as she heard about his divine qualities, unrivalled beauty and infinite virtues.

Śrī Rukmiṇī said [in her letter, as read by the brāhmaṇa]: O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your qualities, which enter the ears of those who hear and remove their bodily distress, and having also heard of Your beauty, which fulfills all the visual desires of those who see, I have fixed my shameless mind upon You, O Kṛṣṇa.

O Mukunda, You are equal only to Yourself in lineage, character, beauty, knowledge, youthfulness, wealth and influence. O lion among men, You delight the minds of all mankind. What aristocratic, sober-minded and marriageable girl of a good family would not choose You as her husband when the proper time has come?

Therefore, my dear Lord, I have chosen You as my husband, and I surrender myself to You. Please come swiftly, O almighty one, and make me Your wife. My dear lotus-eyed Lord, let Śiśupāla never touch the hero’s portion like a jackal stealing the property of a lion.

Source : Srimad Bhagwatam Canto 10 Ch 52

So as soon as Bhagwan Sri Krishna and Mata Rukmini had heard about one another , they had fallen for each other.

The question asks how long have they waited for one another ? The answer should be since their birth.

Bhagwan Sri Krishna is Bhagwan Vishnu while Mata Rukmini is Ma Lakshmi herself. Hence they were destined to marry one another. They are inseperable from one another. The love between them is immesurable, divine, transcesdental, unique, amazing, unique, perfect , exquisite and beyond all descriptions.

Goddess Lakshmi is forever united with the Lord Vishnu. So, when our Lord becomes Rama, Sri becomes Sita, when He is Krishna, she is Rukmini.

Source : Vishnu Puran Book 1 Ch 9.

She, the Mother of the Universe, is the eternal companion of Vishnu. Just as He is omnipresent, so is She.He is meaning, She is speech; He is behavior, She is morality; He is understanding, She is intellect; He is dharma, She is good deeds.

Source : Vishnu Puran Book 1 Ch 8.

How was the relation of Draupadi and Rukmini? Are they friends?

 In the Mahabharata, there is no interaction between Rukmini and Draupadi. Infact Rukmini is mostly only either referenced or mentioned in flashback stories in the Mahabharata.

As per Mahabharata Draupadi was close with Satyabhama. Satyabhama visited Draupadi in the forest and both are mentioned as old friends. When Draupadi disguised as Sairandhri, she introduced herself as Satyabhama's former maid and later Satyabhama also visited Draupadi in Upaplavya during the peace negotiations.

Satyabhama does mention that Rukmini looks after Draupadi's sons in Dwaraka

Your sons are skilled in use of weapons. They are living happily with Abhimanyu in Dvaravati, a place they love. Like you, Subhadra loves them with all her soul. Without any conflict, she is affectionate towards them and has no worries on their account. Pradyumna’s mother (Rukmini) loves them with all her soul. Keshava instructs them, with Bhanu” and the others.

• 224, Draupadi-Satyabhama Samvada, Mahabharata.

Srimad Bhagavatam has two direct interaction between Rukmini and Draupadi

When Krishna visited Indraprastha along with his wives, Draupadi welcomed and worshipped them.

Instructed by her mother-in-law Kunti, Draupadi duly worshipped the queens of Krsna such as Rukmini, Satyabhama, Bhadra, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitra inda. Saibya, and the pious Nagnajiti and other women-guests, with garments, wreaths of flowers, ornaments, etc. King Dharmaraja made comfortable arrangement of lodging for Sri Krsna and that of his queens, members of the army, followers and counsellors providing everyday with new objects of enjoyment.

• Chapter 71, 10th Skandha, Srimad Bhagavatam.

On another occasion, we have Rukmini narrating her marriage story to Draupadi.

Rukmini replied “Like a lion taking away its share (prey) from the herds of goats and sheep, the Lord carried me away, placing his foot on the heads (lit. covering with the dust of his feet the heads) of invincible warrior princes (like Jarasandha, allies of Shishupala) who determined to make me over (in marriage) to Shishupala, stood (ready to fight) raising up their bows (and arms). May those feet of Lord Krsna, the abode of Sri (goddess of beauty and wealth), be available to me for worship, forever.”

• Chapter 83, 10th Skandha, Srimad Bhagavatam.

What are the unique qualities of Rukmini that make her a powerful Hindu goddess?

 

• Mata Rukmini herself is Adisakti Mahalakshmi, so understanding her qualities is definitely beyond from our human brain, because she is the goddess of infinite qualities.

Maharishi Shuka has clearly said in Srimad Bhagavatam that mata Rukmini is Gunashray.

~Srimad Bhagavatam

The term Gunashray means abode of all auspicious qualities, excellence and virtuous.

Not only Srimad Bhagavatam But many scriptures said that mata Rukmini is source of many qualities, excellence and virtuous.

~Harivamsa, Mahabharatha

~Garga samhita

The word Kalyan-Guna-sampana means ( she who possessing auspicious qualities), Guna-sammate (she who is respected for her excellence qualities) and Guna-bhusana-bhusita ( she is decorated with transcendental virtuous).

• But here we will discuss Three Supreme qualities of mata Rukmini. These Three qualities of mata Rukmini is not some ordinary qualities but the sole reason behind creation, preservation and destruction of world. Which is why she is known as powerful Hindu goddess.

Lord Shri Krishna has clearly described these Tri-guna prakriti Swaroop of Mata Lakshmi (Rukmini) to Garud ji. Mata creat this world by her sattva guna, preserve this world by her rajo guna and destroy this world by her tamo guna.

~Garud Mahapuran

It is said in the Upanishads and Mahapuranas that Mother Rukmini is the creator and the form of Satva Guna nature.

~Gopal tapani upanishad

~Bramha vaivarta purana

But in some Puranas it is also said that Mother Rukmini is of Tamoguna prakriti, who is also called Jagat Dhvanshi (destroyer of the universe or cause of destruction(pralaya karini)) and she also becomes the reason for the destruction of demons.

~Shri Rukmini Sahasranama (Skanda purana)

Whereas in Tantra and Samhita it is said that Mother Rukmini is the Rajoguna prakriti and supremely opulent (param Aishwarya) in nature which sustains the world.

~Gautamiya mahatantra

~Krishna Samhita

According to Srimad Bhagavatam Mata Rukmini herself said she is Tri-guna prakriti( sattva, rajas, and tamas ).

~Srimad Bhagavatam

In Skanda purana also Mata Rukmini is said to be reason behind creation, preservation and dissolution of creation.

~Skanda Mahapuran

नमो: कृष्णप्रिये रुक्मिणी 🙏

Art credit : Sanatan_dharma_89 on instagram

Why do many people say that Rukmini was 8 when she married Krishna?

 

According to the Skanda Purana Book 5 (Avantya Khanda), Section 3 (Revakhanda), Chapter 142. It is mentioned that Lord Krishna had married to Maa Rukmini when she was 8 years old. But is it true? It was heavily misinterpreted

Only according to skand puran because they calculate the age differently because of divja a hindu ritual of 2md birth. When a male or female gain the education of vedas they wear janeu and their age is counted from their. Rukhmani was 8 when she had janeu so from their her age was counted as 0. Her divjya age was 8 when she met krishna . 8+8= 16.

And in other Hindu Scriptures, it was mentioned that Lord Krishna had married to Maa Rukmini at the age of 16 years old only

Just read the below lines from Vishnu parva, do you really think, it is description of a 8 years girl?

She is clearly mentioned as a grown up maiden