Krishna had defeated Jarasandha 18 times in Mathura. Because Krishna had killed Kamsa, Jarasandha's son-in-law of Jarasandha, his daughters and wives of Kamsa, who were Asti and Praapti, became widows. Boiling in the heat of revenge, Jarasandha decided to attack Mathura. He invaded Mathura, but was defeated by Krishna 18 times. The last time, Krishna left the battle and went to the Gomantaka Parvata. Later, defeating Jarasandha there too, Krishna constructed Dvaraka in the middle of the ocean.
Now, coming to Vidarbha, in Maharashtra, there was a king by the name of Bhishmaka. He had 4 sons and one daughter. The sons were: Rukmi, Rukmakesha, Rukmangada, Rukmabahu, and the daughter was Rukmini. Rukmini was the youngest among all, and Rukmi was the eldest of all. But the interesting thing is, the youngest Rukmini had great devotion to Krishna, whereas the eldest Rukmi used to hate Krishna. Why? Because Rukmi was a disciple of Jarasandha, and Jarasandha always taught them to hate Krishna. Along with Rukmi, Shishupaala, and Dantavakra were also disciples of Jarasandha.
Rukmini was the princess of Vidarbha; that’s why She is known as Vaidarbhi. She is the daughter of Bhishmaka, therefore known as Bhaishmi. Plus, She was Lakshmidevi Herself, who had incarnated on the earth to accompany Krishna. She was a great devotee of Krishna. Sage Narada used to come and praise Krishna in front of Rukmini. Now, Rukmini had come to an age where She was eligible for marriage. But Rukmini loved Krishna. Whereas Rukmi didn’t like Rukmini’s choice. He wanted Her to marry his friend Shishupaala. Even King Bhishmaka could oppose Rukmi, because Rukmi was a disciple of Jarasandha, and opposing Rukmi would be like opposing Jarasandha, which was very dangerous.
Rukmini’s marriage with Shishupaala was decided. But this was like fitting gold with copper, which is not at all a good choice. Rukmini didn’t like this. She decided to write a letter to Krishna. This wasn’t a love letter. This was a letter of surrender that Rukmini wrote. She wrote a letter to Krishna, praising His auspicious attributes, His charming, handsome form, and requested Him to kidnap Her, like how a lion kidnaps the meat from among the group of jackals. She said that when She would come for the Gowry pooja, Krishna should kidnap Her. She even told in the letter that if Krishna doesn’t kidnap Her then She would do dehatyaaga. She sent a Brahmin with the letter to Dwaraka. The Brahmin gave the letter to Krishna. Krishna welcomed the Brahmin, worshipped him with great devotion, and then He read the letter and said, “Even I am in love with Rukmini. From the time I heard of Rukmini from Sage Narada, I have fallen in love with Her, and I am not even able to sleep at night properly in Her thoughts.” And thus, Krishna decided to kidnap Rukmini.
Here, Krishna worshipped the Brahmin to tell the whole world how to worship the knowledgeable and worship-worthy jnaanis. As it is said, “Martyaavataare Hi tu Martyashikshanam”, which means “In the human incarnation, Bhagavan teaches the human, humanity and good conduct, by Himself acting as a human.”
He came to Vidarbha along with the Brahmin. Rukmini was waiting for the Brahmin to come. She was very much frightened as to what if the Brahmin didn’t come. Krishna came along with the Brahmin in Vidarbha, and the Brahmin came towards the palace. Rukmini, on seeing him, was very happy. Now, along with Krishna, the Yadavas too had come, led by Balarama. Now, King Bhishmaka had organized the Swayamvara of Rukmini. But, due to politics over there, it was pre-decided by Rukmi and Jarasandha that Rukmini was to be married to Shishupaala. Now, Krishna came to the Svayamvara. Jarasandha and Rukmi decided to humiliate Krishna by not giving Him any seat. By that, Krishna would have to sit below them as a commoner, and hence would be humiliated.
But then, Indra saw this from heaven. He sent Vayudeva to present an excellent throne for Krishna. Vayudeva brought the throne for Krishna and made Krishna sit there. Thus, Krishna was respected and worshipped by Indra. Seeing all this, Bhishmaka was happy to see Krishna being worshipped, but was sad about the behaviour of Rukmi and Jarasandha, and was disappointed that he couldn’t stop them from trying to insult Krishna. On seeing Krishna being worshipped, Jarasandha and Rukmi were awestruck and were even more enraged with hatred. Actually, here, King Bhishmaka also had to agree to the marriage of Rukmini to Shishupaala, because being forced by Rukmi and Jarasandha.
Now, King Bhishmaka and Krishna had a silent meeting, away from these evil people. Bhishmaka was very much disappointed by his son’s behaviour. Krishna consoled Bhishmaka and said, “Your daughter Rukmini is not an ordinary girl, but is Svayam Mahalakshmi Devi Herself. Even before, She was born as Lakshmi, as the daughter of the Milky Ocean, and Samudra Raja gave Her to me. In Treta Yuga, the same Lakshmi was born as Sita, and King Janaka gave Janaki to me. Now, when the same Janaki is born as Rukmini, you cannot marry Her to Shishupaala. Now, I will show you the universal form of Rukmini.” By saying this, Krishna showed the universal form of Lakshmi, who was the greatest devotee of Krishna.
In that form, Lakshmi was there. There were infinite incarnations of Lakshmi, like Sita, Jayanti, Dakshina, Ramaa, Buddhi, Jayaa, Maaya, Kruti, Shaanti, etc. There was Rukmini too, as a form of Lakshmidevi. All these incarnations were non-different from Lakshmidevi. Lord Vishnu has infinite incarnations. Along with all these incarnations, Lakshmidevi is always accompanied by Her infinite incarnations. Seeing all this, King Bhishmaka decided to marry Rukmini to Krishna, because Rukmini was Mahalakshmidevi and Krishna was Narayana. Now, Rukmini, as per the plan, came for the Gowry pooja. Gowry was Her Kuladevi.
Now, as She was coming, She was looking very beautiful. Her anklets on Her feet were jingling and making the ‘chhin chhin chhin chhin’ sound. Her lotus feet were decorated with various ornaments. She had Her legs like the trunk of an elephant. She had a slender belly, which made Her look more beautiful. Her slender waist appeared delicate beneath the graceful fullness of Her breasts. She was wearing Shvetaambara (white clothes) and was decorated with ornaments made of Jaambunada gold. This is the gold that is used in Devaloka for making the ornaments of the devatas, and it is very different from the gold that is used here to make ornaments. It’s a very high-quality gold. She had a gentle smile on Her face, and had lips the color of a pomegranate, and teeth shining like pearls. She had eyes resembling the blooming lotus. Her face was like the moon in the month of Sharad. The moon we see has spots on it. When Chandra attains Mukti at the end, He doesn’t have these spots. That Chandra is fully bright white in color.
Such infinite moons can also not surpass the beauty of Rukmini’s moon-like face, which was spotless and was more beautiful even than these moons. She was decorated with golden bangles on Her hands, which jingled and shone like lightning, and made jingling sounds. She wore Kumkuma Tilaka on Her forehead. Her hair was dark, dense, and naturally curling over Her forehead. The shade and texture of Her locks were like dark rain clouds reflecting a subtle bluish hue under the sunlight. She had braids in Her hair, looking like a serpent that had opened its hoods. The braid was like the serpent’s tail, and the head was like the snake with opened hoods. She was walking through the Raajamaarga towards the Kuladevi pooja. She was walking like an elephant walking. On seeing Her, the devatas, led by Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, Indra, etc., bowed to Her. Whereas these kings, who were seeing Her coming down, fainted in the street itself. They were so bewildered and attracted towards Her beauty that they fainted.
Now, as She was coming in the Raajamaarga, Krishna came in His chariot. Krishna carried Her in His chariot, as a lion elopes the deer from the group of jackals. Rukmini was now with Krishna. Rukmi got to know about this and then chased Krishna. Krishna cut all His weapons, and then finally disfigured him and was about to kill Rukmi, but Rukmini pleaded with Krishna not to kill him on the day of Her marriage. Therefore, Krishna left Rukmi and went with Rukmini to Dwaraka. Now, Krishna was along with Lakshmidevi and was known as ‘Lakshmipati’. The couple, who are eternally married and eternally inseparable, were now getting married just for the welfare of the world. That’s why, for them, the mantra is:
Maangalyam Tantunaanena Jagajjeevanahetuna |
Kanthe badhnaami subhage tvam jeeva sharadaam shatam ||
Thus, Rukmini and Krishna got married. All the devatas, led by Brahma, Shiva, Indra, etc., came to attend that grand, divine marriage. The Pandavas too came to attend the marriage of Krishna and Rukmini. Krishna and Rukmini sat in the Vivaaha Mantapa, and Rukmini garlanded Krishna with Varamaala and stood on the left side of Krishna. Krishna tied the Mangalasootra to Rukmini. When the same Rukmini emerged from the Milky Ocean as Lakshmi, She was already wearing the Mangalasootra in Her conch-shell-shaped neck. Now, for the welfare of all of us, Krishna tied the Mangalasootra to Rukmini Lakshmidevi. At that time, She, in the middle of the devatas, chose Lord Vishnu. Now, that same Lakshmi, now as Rukmini, chose Her eternal husband, Krishna, as Her husband.
Shishupala and Dantavakra were Jaya and Vijaya, the gatekeepers of Lord Vishnu. In Satya Yuga, Hiranyaksha tried to kidnap Bhudevi and Lord Varaha killed him. In Treta Yuga, Ravana tried to kidnap Sitadevi and was killed by Rama. Now, here, Shishupaala tried to make Rukmini Devi his wife, but failed. Now, gold (Rukmini) was perfectly fitted with blue sapphire (Krishna). Rukmini Devi and Bhagavan SriKrishna are an eternally wedded couple. By reading this auspicious story, unmarried people who wish to marry will receive a husband or wife, as per their wish, and will be eligible for the full grace of Lord SriKrishna and Rukmini Devi.
It inspired me to devote myself not only to Rukmini, but also to Krishna. Rukmini is Jaganmaata. She gave a very nice message by writing a letter to Krishna. By this She says to all of us, who are Her sons, “If you want Krishna to hold your hand, you also have to write a letter to Krishna, as I wrote.” Thus, Jaganmaata Rukmini Devi taught us how to approach Krishna. We, in the form of stotras and keertanas, can write a letter to Krishna, and thus, Krishna will also hold our hands and will accept us.
Victory to Lord Krishna! Victory to Devi Rukmini!
Victory to the auspicious Srihari, who always blesses His devotees!
Victory to the king of the whole universe, Krishna! Victory to the husband of Sridevi!
Victory to the embodiment of auspiciousness! Victory to the embodiment of auspiciousness!
Hope this helps!
Jay SriRam!
Jay Sri Rukmini Rukmineesha Krishna!
ShriRukminiKrishnarpanamstu!😊🙏✨🌸