Lord Krishna is one of the most prominent and revered deities in Hinduism. He is the eighth avatar of Vishnu, who is said to have born around 5000 years ago. Lord Krishna was born as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. His foster parents, Nanda Mahajraj and Yashoda, brought him up in a cowherd community in Gokul. Then Lord Krishna moved to Vrindavan, where he spent his childhood. Here, he used to tease the gopis by stealing milk and butter. As Krishna grew up, he left Vrindavan and moved to Mathura, where he became the leader of the Yadus. When it comes to Lord Krishna wives, he had 16,108 wives. Eight out of them were his principal wives, also known as Ashta Bharya. This Cottage9 blog tells about the divine marriages of Lord Krishna with his principal wives and their spiritual significance.
Who is the Wife of Lord Krishna?
Though Rukmini is Lord Krishna’s first and most beloved wife, she was not the only wife of the deity. Apart from Rukmini, Lord Krishna had 7 other principal queens. These included Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Satya, Bhadra, and Lakshmana.
Children of Lord Krishna
Each of these 8 wives blessed him with 10 sons. Therefore, there were 80 sons in the Lord Krishna family.
Apart from the 8 principal wives, Lord Krishna had 16,100 wives. He performed marriages with these women after freeing them from the captivity of the demon Narkasura. Banished by society, Lord Krishna married them to restore their honour and social standing.
When Lord Narada visited Dwarka, he was amazed to see Lord Krishna in each of his wives’ houses, performing his duties as a husband. This proves the divinity of Shri Krishna. Though he had a marriage with each of his wives, he was still free from the grips of the five senses. Moreover, he was free from lust, desire, and other vices. These are the vices that bind ordinary persons in the vicious cycle of birth and death.
Significance of the Main Wives of Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna had divine marriages with his 8 principal wives:
Rukmini
Rukmini was the first and most beloved wife and the chief consort of Lord Krishna. An epitome of devotion and pure love, Rukmini was an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She eloped with Shri Krishna from her wedding because her family wanted her to marry another prince.
Satyabhama
Satyabhama, the second wife of Lord Krishna, is an incarnation of Bhumidevi. She epitomizes strength, courage, and a strong will. Satyabhama accompanied Lord Krishna in his battle with Narakasura. They helped to free 16,100 girls from Narkasura’s forced confinement.
Jambavati
Jamabvati, the daughter of Jambavan, the bear king, represents victory and courage. Lord Krishna won her as his partner after defeating Jambavan in a fight.
Kalindi
Kalindi personifies the Yamuna River and symbolizes simplicity and purity. She is also the daughter of Suryva Dev. Kalindi prayed to God to let Lord Vishnu marry her. Impressed by her devotion, Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, married her.
Mitravinda
Mitravinda represents love and willpower. She was determined to marry Shri Krishna, though her brothers opposed the marriage.
Satya
Satya was the daughter of King Nagnajit of Kosala. Even Lord Krishna had to prove himself to marry her. As per the king’s condition, Lord Krishna had to tame seven ferocious bulls to win her hand in marriage, which he managed to do so.
Bhadra
Bhadra represents pure love, a devoted wife, and an obedient child. Her mother, Shutakirti, wanted her to marry Shri Krishna. Thus, he became her husband.
Lakshmana
Known for her beauty and grace, Lakshmana was the daughter of King Brihatsena. Shri Krishna shot an arrow in the fish’s eye in the swaymvar organized by the king, leading to their marriage.
Part of Lord Krishna’s Divine Play
Each wife of Shree Krishna recognized his divinity and was devoted to him. Due to his divine manifestations, he was able to live simultaneously with all his 16,108 wives. Lord Krishna remained present at each of the wives’ palaces at the same time. He performed household duties there and interacted with his wives and children. This means even if Lord Krishna was involved with worldly duties, he was still free from the grip of the five senses. Moreover, he was free from worldly desires and vices.
Living with many wives simultaneously is a part of the leelas performed by Lord Krishna. These divine plays or acts of Krishna symbolize his supreme compassion and the protection he offers to his devotees. They remind us that the divine can manifest in various forms and relationships. The acts always guide us towards devotion, love, and spiritual growth. The leelas serve as a sign that there are limitless ways through which the divine can touch our lives and guide us towards enlightenment.
Conclusion
Lord Krishna is a prominent and highly revered Hindu deity. He performed various leelas. One of them was marrying several wives and living with them simultaneously. Out of 6108 wives, 8 were the principal wives of Lord Krishna. They all were devoted to him, and their union was considered divine. He remained devoted to fulfilling his household duties towards them and protecting them.
In spite of marrying multiple wives and spending time with all of them simultaneously, Shri Krishna remained detached from worldly desires. His divine plays inspire us to move towards spiritual enlightenment, become free from worldly desires, and show compassion to fellow beings. To feel the divine energy and presence of Lord Krishna, you can get his idols and paintings from Cottage9. It is the best place to buy creatively designed idols and paintings of various Hindu deities.
FAQs
How many wives did Lord Krishna have?
Lord Krishna had a total of 16,108 wives. Eight of them were principal wives, also known as Ashta Bharya. The rest of his 16,100 wives were women whom he freed from Narkasura’s captivity.
Who were the eight main wives of Lord Krishna?
The Ashta Bharya or the 8 queens of Krishna included Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Satya, Bhadra, and Lakshmana. Each of these queens has a spiritual symbolism.
Why did Lord Krishna marry 16,100 women?
Narkasura had kept these women in forced confinement. Lord Krishna freed them from his captivity. He married them to protect their honor and save them from social rejection.
What is the spiritual significance of Lord Krishna’s marriages?
The marriages of Lord Krishna were not just worldly relationships. They were also symbolic unions between the Divine Energy and different forms of devotion. This shows his compassion towards all his wives.
Which wife of Lord Krishna is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi?
Rukmini, the first and main queen of Lord Krishna, is widely regarded as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She is considered the eternal divine consort of Lord Krishna.
