By Dhananjaya Bhat

One of the greatest puzzles of Hindu mythology, especially in the two epics, ‘Ramayana’ (saga of Lord Rama) and ‘Bhagavatham’ (chronicle of Lord Krishna), has been the number of spouses /Bharyas attributed to the two avataras of God Vishnu. In Ramavatara which was in the Tritya yuga era he was Eka patni Vrata - or had only one wife - Goddess Sita.

In his Krishna avatara in the next yuga of Dwapara he is said to have as many as 16108 spouses! Mythology reconciles these two contradictions by stating that the 16100, who wanted to be Rama’s spouse in Treta Youga, were promised that they could be his spouses in the next yuga, when he reincarnates as Lord Krishna. When Krishna killed Narakasura, he found these women in the tyrant’s jails and although Lord Krishna entreated their husbands to take them back in the family, they refused due to the rigours of tradition in those days, which keeps out any women who had been taken from /left her husband. In order to provide them with this safeguard of a husband God Krishna married them. As such his marrying the 16100 women was an act of kindness.

The important eight, they are the Ashta-Bharyas - the 8 principal wives of Lord Krishna, whom the god married were actually different forms/aspects of Goddess Lakshmi known as ashta lakshmis, namely Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravrinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra and Lakshana. The ashta Lakshmis are -

Adi Lakshmi (The primal mother goddess), Dhanalakshm (One who showers wealth), Dhanyalakshmi (Food – one who eliminates hunger), Gajalakshmi (Power and Strength), Santan Lakshmi (Children), Veera Lakshmi (Courage and Strength), Vijaya Lakshmi (Victory), Vidya Lakshmi (Wisdom and knowledge)

Krishna bhaktas claim, that as he had only married eight aspects of the same goddess, he also should be taken as an Eka patni virata, like God Rama.

But there is a notable omission in this list, namely of Radha, who is known as the most beloved of Krishna. The omission was due to the reason that she was not actually a Bharya only a beloved. The fact was that although Radha was the closest to Krishna, she was already married and in those days even a god cannot violate the tradition by marrying a lady, while her first husband was alive. But she was closer to the divine being than any of his other spouses. The Rasleela or the love game between Radha and Krishna was the embodiment of passion, devotion and spirituality. In fact the Rasleela of Krishna does not include any of his other spouses and is the sole prerogative of Radha.

Rukmini - The devotees accept that Rukmini was the Chief Queen (patrani) of Lord Krishna. Rukmini was the daughter of Bhishmaka, the king of Vidarbha. The first son of Queen Rukmini was Pradyumna, was the crown prince of Dwaraka. The Skanda-Purana declares: "Rukmini is in Dwaraka what Radha is in the forest of Vrindavana".

But many episodes in Lord Krishna’s life are quoted to show, as to how even his consort Rukmini Devi could not understand the music of his flute, whereas his beloved Radha realised and knew the meaning of the music when Krishna was playing his flute. According to Swami Sukhaananda: "The episode goes like this. Rukmani loves Krishna so much that she is very possessive about him. But hardly she gets time to spent with her beloved one. But she always has marked one thing, that the flute which Krishna plays is most of the times with him, except when he takes bath or when he goes out for some specific reason. Once Rukmani thought of asking the flute as to what is so special about it a mere bamboo stick. One day, when Krishna went to take bath, Rukmani took his flute, breathed life to it and asked it ‘Why are you so close to Krishna! Despite being his wife, I am not able to spend that much time with him?’ The flute gave a surprise look to Rukmani and told her ‘Even I don’t know why it’s like that. Look at me, I am empty. I am just a stick with some holes and I am of no use to anyone. But once Krishna puts air into me, nice music comes out of it. I don’t have any mental blocks so I am close to him. So you too take out all blocks (remove your ego), be empty, then only you will be close to Krishna. See Radha! She represents a devotee, who has transcended his ego self and has become an unobstructed medium for the music of the soul’." Thus Rukmani realised the greatness of Radha.

Satyabhama - was the second important consort of Krishna, who besides being a form of ashta Lakshmis is also said to symbolise Bhu Devi another consort of Lord Vishnu. Krishna’s wives were all individual personalities. Amongst them, Satyabhama was the feistiest. She always used to offer an argument, which Krishna would enjoy. Though Satyabhama was a very courageous and strong-willed woman very adept in the warfare of archery, but she was also known for her temper tantrums. She played a very important part in Krishna’s battle against the cruel Narakasura. Mythology avers that it was actually a parent’s vs son war! And Narakasur was born of Bhudevi and God Vishnu when he took the incarnation of Lord Varaha in earlier yugas. In one of the versions, it was said that Narakasur after considerable penance (tapas) ensured that that no one except his mother should kill, feeling confident that his own mother who bore him, will never do that. When the war between Lord Krishna and Narakasur was going on, Sathyabama, frightened by the terrible weapons and deafening noises pleaded with Krishna to finish him (Narakasur), soon after which Lord Krishna did immediately. Before, dying, the Asura requested a boon that his death anniversary should be celebrated by all people on earth. This day is celebrated as ‘Naraka Chaturdashi’ - the first day of Diwali.

Radha - the most well known companion of Lord Krishna was born in Barsana, a village about 8 kilometres from Vrindavan (in Uttar Pradesh), to the cowherd Vrishabhanu and his wife, Kamalavati. It is in later texts such as the ‘Gita Govinda’ where we find the story of Radha given. Radha’s husband was actually a great Vishnu devotee in his previous life and did tapasya. When Bhagwan Vishnu wanted to give him blessing, he asked Bhagwan’s wife should be his wife. Since Vishnu is Bhaktabatsal (affectionate to devotees), he granted him that and Radha became his wife.

She was Krishna’s lover during that period of his life, when he lived among the cowherds of Vrindavan. Krishna left Vrindavan for Mathura at the age of 10 years and 7 months according to Bhagavata Purana. So Radha is assumed to be also 10 years older than Krishna, when Krishna left Vrindavan.

Radha and Krishna were one and the same. Hence, although Radha had merged into Krishna, she continued to worship him for the sake of guiding the other gopis. One will think that once a gopi reaches the zenith, she will see several Radhas. Those following Radha, that is those seekers following the Path of Devotion, will see only one Radha because there is no duality in spiritual love, only non-duality.

According to His Holiness Kane Maharaj, Narayangaon (Pune), India, "The sound of the flute means the anahat sound (the unceasing subtle sound of the universe). That sound had made the gopis crazy for Lord Krishna. So one will realise how highly spiritually evolved they were (as the spiritual experience of anahat sound is a high level experience). When leaving Gokul, Krishna gave His flute to Radha and never played it again. Thus, He made sure that she constantly got the spiritual experience of Absoluteness (Purnatva), which is superior to anahat sound".

The Krishna devotees down the ages realise the greatness of Radha. For example, there is no Krishna-Rukmini temple in the whole of India except, at Pandharpur, Maharashtra. The only temple for Satyabhama and that too depicting her without Lord Krishna is in Puttaparti-Andhra Pradesh. But there are scores of temples of idols of Radha-Krishna all over India. And thanks to the ISKCON movement there are hundreds outside India too who worship Radha. MF