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{{Short description|Eight principal wives of Hindu god Krishna}}
[[File:Mysore painting.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Ashtabharya with [[Krishna]] - 19th Century [[Mysore painting]] depicting Krishna with his eight principal consorts.]]
The '''Ashtabharya''' ({{Langx|sa|अष्टभार्या|translit=Aṣṭabhāryā}}) or '''Ashta-bharya(s)''' is the group of eight principal queen-consorts of [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god [[Krishna]], the king of [[Dwarka|Dvaraka]], [[Saurashtra Kingdom| Saurashtra]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Khorana |first=Meena |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GSjcQ7Sm5E4C&dq=Krishna+king+dvaraka&pg=PA97 |title=The Indian Subcontinent in Literature for Children and Young Adults: An Annotated Bibliography of English-language Books |date=1991 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-25489-5 |language=en}}</ref> in the [[Dvapara Yuga]] (epoch). The most popular list, found in the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', includes: [[Rukmini]], [[Jambavati]], [[Satyabhama]], [[Yamuna in Hinduism|Kalindi]], [[Nagnajiti]], [[Mitravinda]], [[Lakshmana (Krishna's wife)|Lakshmana]] and [[Bhadra (Krishna's wife)|Bhadra]]. Variations exist in the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Harivamsa]]'', which includes queens called Madri or [[Rohini (Krishna's wife)|Rohini]], instead of Bhadra. Most of them were princesses.

In [[Hinduism]], all of Krishna's chief consorts including [[Radha]] are revered as the [[avatar]]s of the goddess [[Lakshmi]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thakur |first=Pradeep |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KVRwDwAAQBAJ&dq=Wives+krishna+lakshmi&pg=PR98 |title=Vikram & the Vampire |date=6 January 2012 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-105-42303-1 |edition=Improvised |pages=xcviii (98) |language=en}}</ref> while the [[Gopi]]s of [[Braj]] are considered as Radha's manifestations.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jestice |first=Phyllis G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H5cQH17-HnMC&dq=Gopis+incarnations+radha&pg=PA316 |title=Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia |date=2004 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-355-1 |pages=316 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Rukmini]], the princess of [[Vidarbha]] was Krishna's first wife and chief queen (''Patrani'') of Dvaraka. She is considered as the avatar of [[Lakshmi|Sridevi]], the goddess of prosperity. [[Satyabhama]], the second wife, a Yadava princess, is considered as Lakshmi's aspect of the earth-goddess [[Bhumi (goddess)|Bhudevi]]. [[Jambavati]] is believed to be the manifestation of the third aspect of Lakshmi, [[Niladevi]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Books |first=Kausiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8s3EAAAQBAJ&dq=Lakshmi+jambavati&pg=PT182 |title=Garuda Purana: Brahma Khanda: English Translation only without Slokas: English Translation only without Slokas |date=2021-07-11 |publisher=Kausiki Books |language=en}}</ref> [[Yamuna in Hinduism|Kalindi]], the goddess of the river [[Yamuna in Hinduism|Yamuna]], is worshipped independently. Besides the Ashtabharya, Krishna had 16,100 ceremonial wives.

The texts also mention the many children Krishna fathered by the Ashtabharya, the most prominent being the crown-prince [[Pradyumna]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Austin|first=Christopher R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4jCoDwAAQBAJ|title=Pradyumna: Lover, Magician, and Son of the Avatara|date=2019-10-04|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-005411-3|language=en}}</ref> son of Rukmini and rebirth of [[Kamadeva]], the god of love.

==Summary==
[[File: Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama Garuda.jpg|thumb|300px|Krishna with his two principal queens. (From left) Rukmini, [[Krishna]], Satyabhama and his mount [[Garuda]].]]
; Key

{| class="wikitable" border="solid 1px #AAAAAA"
|-
|style="background:#ccccff; width:3em;" |
|Not always included in Ashtabharya list
|-
|}

; Abbreviations
* General:
** f: father
** m: mother
** d: daughter, unless specified otherwise, child is a son.
** ?: Statement is disputed
* Scriptures
** BP: ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''
** Mbh: ''[[Mahabharata]]''
** VP: ''[[Vishnu Purana]]''
** HV: ''[[Harivamsa]]''
** PP: ''[[Padma Purana]]''

; Table:<ref name="Hudson2008"/><ref>{{cite book | last = Mani | first = Vettam | title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature | url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publishers | year = 1975  | isbn = 978-0-8426-0822-0 | author-link = Vettam Mani|page = [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/62 62]}}</ref><ref name="Wilson1870">{{cite book|author=Horace Hayman Wilson|title=The Vishńu Puráńa: a system of Hindu mythology and tradition|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RO8oAAAAYAAJ|access-date=21 February 2013|year=1870|publisher=Trübner|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RO8oAAAAYAAJ/page/n84 81]–3, 107-8}}</ref><ref name=Genealogy>{{Cite web|url=http://krsnabook.com/ch61.html|title=The Genealogical Table of the Family of Krishna|accessdate=5 February 2013|publisher= Krsnabook.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vedabase.net/sb/10/61/17/ |title=Bhagavata Purana 10.61.17 |author=Prabhupada |author-link=Prabhupada |publisher=[[Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410055002/http://vedabase.net/sb/10/61/17/ |archivedate=2012-04-10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vedabase.net/sb/10/58/56/en/ |title=Bhagavata Purana 10.58.56 |author=Prabhupada |author-link=Prabhupada |publisher=[[Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017204511/http://vedabase.net/sb/10/58/56/en |archivedate=2010-10-17 }}</ref><ref name=Harivamsha>{{Cite web|url=http://mahabharata-resources.org/harivamsa/vishnuparva/hv_2_103.html|title= Harivamsha Maha Puraaam - Vishnu Parvaharivamsha in the Mahabharata - Vishnuparva Chapter 103 - narration of the Vrishni race|accessdate=25 January 2013|publisher=Mahabharata Resources Organization}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center" style="clear:both;" width="100%"
! Name
! Epithets
! Region
! Parents
! Mode of marriage
! Attestations
! Children
|-
| [[Rukmini]]||Vaidarbhi, Visalakshi, Bhaishmaki||[[Vidarbha]]||[[Bhishmaka]] (f)||Elopement||BP, Mbh, VP, HV||[[Pradyumna]], Charudeshna, Sudeshna, Charudeha, Sucharu, Charugupta, Bhadracharu, Charuchandra, Vicharu and Charu (BP);
Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Sudeshna, Charudeha, Sushena, Charugupta, Bhadracharu, Charuvinda, Sucharu, Charu, Charumati (d) (VP);

Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Chardudeshna (Same name), Charubhadra, Charugarbha, Sudeshna, Druma, Sushena, Charuvinda, Charubahu, Charumati (d) (HV)
|-
| [[Satyabhama]]||Suganthi, Kamalakshi, Satrajiti|| Dvaraka||[[Satrajit]] (f)||Arranged
||BP, Mbh, VP, HV||Bhanu, Subhanu, Svarbhanu, Prabhanu, Bhanuman, Chandrabhanu, Savitri, Brịhadbhanu, Atibhanu, Shribhanu and Pratibhanu. (BP);
Bhanu, Bhaimarika (VP);

Bhanu, Bhimaratha, Rohita, Diptiman, Tamrapaksha, Jalantaka, Bhanu (d), Bhimanika (d), Tamrapani (d), Jandhama (d) (HV)
|-
| [[Jambavati]]||Narendraputri, Kapindraputri, Pauravi|| - ||[[Jambavan]] (f)||Arranged||BP, Mbh, VP, HV||[[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]], Sumitra, Purujit, Shatajit, Sahasrajit, Vijaya, Chitraketu, Vasuman, Dravida and Kratu (BP);
Sons headed by Samba (VP);

Samba, Mitravan, Mitravinda, Mitravati (d) (HV)
|-
| [[Kalindi]]||Yamuna, Mitravinda (HV)|| ||[[Surya]] (f), [[Saranyu]] (m) (BP)||[[Tapas (Indian religions)|Tapas]]||BP, VP||Shruta, Kavi, Vrsa, Vira, Subahu, Bhadra, Santi, Darsa, Purnamasa and Somaka (BP);
Sons headed by Shruta (VP);

Ashruta and Shrutasamhita (HV)
|-
| [[Nagnajiti]]||Satya, Kausalya||[[Kosala]]||Nagnajit (f)||[[Svayamvara]]||BP, Mbh (?), VP, HV||Vira, Chandra, Ashvasena, Citragu, Vegavan, Vrsha, Ama, Shanku, Vasu and Kunti (BP);
Many sons headed by Bhadravinda (VP);

Mitrabahu, Sunitha, Bhadrarakara, Bhadravinda, Bhadravati (d) (HV)
|-
| [[Mitravinda]]||Sudatta (VP), Shaibya or Shaivya (BP), [Kalindi is given the epithet Mitravinda; Shaibya (Sudatta) is a different queen in HV]||[[Avanti (India)|Avanti]]||Jayasena (f), Rajadhidevi (m) (BP); [[Shibi (king)|Shibi]] (HV)||Svayamvara ||BP, Mbh, VP, HV||Vrika, Harsha, Anila, Gridhra, Vardhana, Unnada, Mahamsa, Pavana, Vahni and Kshudhi (BP);
Many sons headed by Sangramajit (VP);

Sangramajit, Satyajit, Senajit, Sapatnajit, Angada, Kumuda, Shveta and Shvetā (d) (HV)
|-
| [[Lakshmana (Krishna's wife)|Lakshmana]]|| Lakshana, Charuhasini, Madri (BP), Madrā (BP)||[[Madra]] (BP), unknown (VP, HV), Gandhara||Brihatsena (f) (PP), unnamed (f) (BP)||Svayamvara||BP, Mbh, VP, HV||Praghosha, Gatravan, Simha, Bala, Prabala, Urdhvaga, Mahashakti, Saha, Oja and Aparajita (BP);
Many sons headed by Gatravan (VP);

Gatravan, Gatragupta, Gatravinda, Gatravati (d) (HV)
|-
| [[Bhadra (Krishna's wife)|Bhadra]]||Kaikeyi||[[Kekaya]]||Dhrishtaketu (f), Shrutakirti (m)||Arranged||BP, Mbh||Sangramajit, Brihatsena, Shura, Praharana, Arijit, Jaya, Subhadra, Vama, Ayur and Satyaka (BP); |
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| Madri || Subhima (HV) ||Madra (VP, HV) || - || - || VP, HV || Many sons headed by Vrika (VP);
Vrikashva, Vrikanivriti and Vrikadipti (HV)
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| [[Rohini (Krishna's wife)|Rohini]]||Jambavati (?)|| - || - || Protection ||BP, VP, Mbh||Diptiman, Tamratapta and others (BP);
Diptiman, Tamratapta and others (VP)
|}

==Symbolism==
The hierarchy of the wives is under three groups according to their regal status and symbolises Krishna's sovereignty. In the first group, Rukmini, an avatar of the Material Prakriti (Shri), stands for the majesty and wealth of Krishna; Satyabhama, the avatar of the Elemental Prakriti ([[Bhudevi]]), represents the kingdom and the realm of the deity as well. Jambavati is Victory (''Vijaya''), who was won by defeating her father. The second group were representatives of [[Aryavarta]] (the nobility) with Kalindi standing for the central kingdoms, Nagnajiti representing the eastern kingdoms (including the Solar dynasty) and Lakshmana representing the western side. The third group of wives consisted of Mitravinda and Bhadra, his patriarchal cousins representing his [[Yadava]] clan called [[Yadava#The Satvatas|Satvata]].<ref name="Hudson2008">{{cite book|author=D Dennis Hudson|title=The Body of God : An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMCxbOezDi4C&pg=PA264|access-date=28 March 2013|date=27 August 2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-970902-1|pages=263–4}}</ref>

==Legends==
[[File: Vitthal - Rakhumai.jpg|right|thumb|Rukmini as the main consort of [[Vithoba]], a regional form of Krishna.]]

Rukmini, the chief consort of Krishna, heard the tales of the hero and fell in love with him. While her parents consented to her wedding with her groom of choice, Rukmini's brother [[Rukmi]] fixed her marriage with his friend [[Shishupala]]. Rukmini sent a message to Krishna to rescue her from her fate and wed her. Krishna abducted Rukmini during her [[svayamvara]], after battling her brother Rukmi. Krishna's army commanded by his brother [[Balarama]] defeat Rukmi and the other kings, who follow Krishna and Rukmini.<ref>{{cite book | last = Mani | first = Vettam | title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature | url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publishers | year = 1975  | isbn = 978-0-8426-0822-0 | author-link = Vettam Mani|page = [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/657 657]}}</ref><ref name=Vedantha>{{Cite web|url=http://vedabase.net/sb/10/53/en1|title=Chapter 53: Krishna Kidnaps Rukmini|accessdate=7 January 2013|publisher=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118062846/http://vedabase.net/sb/10/53/en1|archive-date=18 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rukmini is traditionally considered to be the favourite and the primary wife of Krishna, the latter's partiality towards her often provoking the ire of his second consort of Satyabhama.

The marriage of Satyabhama and Jambavati to Krishna is closely linked to the story of [[Syamantaka]], the precious diamond given by the Sun-god Surya to his devotee [[Satrajit]], father of Satyabhama. Krishna requests Satrajit to present the gem to the Yadava elder [[Ugrasena]], which the latter refuses and instead presents it to his brother Prasena. Prasena wears it on a hunting expedition, where he is killed by a lion, who is in turn killed by [[Jambavan]], the bear-king. When accused by Satrajit of stealing the jewel, Krishna goes in its search and finally following trials of the corpses of Prasena and the lion, confronts Jambavan. After 27/28 day duel, Jambavan - the devotee of [[Rama]] (Vishnu's previous avatar) - surrenders to Krishna, who he realizes is none other than Vishnu. He returns the gem and gives Jambavati to Krishna. When the presumed dead Krishna returns to Dvaraka, a humiliated Satrajit begs his forgiveness and offers Satyabhama's hand in marriage along with the jewel.<ref name="Satya">{{cite book | last = Mani | first = Vettam | title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature | url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publishers | year = 1975  | isbn = 978-0-8426-0822-0 | author-link = Vettam Mani|pages = [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/704 704-5]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en |title=Chapter 56: The Syamantaka Jewel |accessdate=27 February 2013 |publisher=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211736/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en |archivedate=28 September 2011 }}</ref>

[[Image: Krishna Narakasura.jpg|thumb|300px|Krishna and Satyabhama fighting Narakasura's armies -Painting from the [[Metropolitan Museum]]]]
Among the queens, Satyabhama is depicted to be the most beautiful and loving wife. Not only was Satyabhama a very courageous and strong-willed woman, but she was also skillful in archery. She even accompanied Krishna to kill the demon [[Narakasura]]. While Krishna kills the demon in Krishna-oriented scriptures, Satyabhama, the manifestation of Bhudevi - the mother of Narakasura, kills the demon to fulfil a curse that he will be killed by his mother in [[Shakta|Goddess-centric]] texts. At Satyabhama's behest, Krishna also defeats [[Indra]], the king of heaven and the gods and gets the celestial [[parijat]]a tree for her after he had previously acquired it for Rukmini.<ref name=" Satya"/>
; In Folk Traditions
Indian folktales often tell stories of Krishna's competing wives, especially Rukmini and Satyabhama.<ref name="BeckClaus1999">{{cite book|author1=Brenda E. F. Beck|author2=Peter J. Claus|author3=Praphulladatta Goswami|author4=Jawaharlal Handoo|title=Folktales of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jmKu3t-sYi4C&pg=PA157|access-date=1 May 2013|date=15 April 1999|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-04083-7|pages=156}}</ref> A tale narrates how once Satyabhama, proud of her wealth, donated Krishna to the divine sage [[Narada]] and pledged to take him back by donating wealth to him as much as Krishna's weight. Krishna sat on one pan of a weighing scale and Satyabhama filled the other pan with all of the wealth, inherited from her father, but it could not equal Krishna's weight. The other wives, except Rukmini, followed suit but Krishna's pan did not leave the ground. The wives requested Satyabhama to approach Rukmini. A helpless Satyabhama asked her foremost rival, Rukmini, for help. Rukmini had no wealth of her own. She chanted a prayer and put the holy [[tulsi|tulasi]] leaf in the other pan, as the symbol of her love; removing the wealth of Satyabhama and the other queens from the pan. Krishna's pan was suddenly lifted into the air and the other pan touched the earth, even though only a tulasi leaf in it.<ref name="Pattanaik2000">{{cite book|author=Devdutt Pattanaik|title=The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rjL3ogbdJNkC&pg=PA27|access-date=1 May 2013|date=1 September 2000|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co|isbn=978-0-89281-807-5|pages=26–7}}</ref>
; In Scriptures
Unlike folk traditions that depict rivalry, scriptures describe Satyabhama and Rukmini as close companions. The [[Bhagavata Purana]] refers to Rukmini as Satyabhama's priya sakhi (dear friend), showing mutual respect rather than conflict.

The Tulabharam (weighing scale) event, often misrepresented in folklore, is mentioned in texts such as the [[Padma Purana]] and Vishnu Dharmottara Purana. However, it was not a result of Satyabhama's pride or a test of her devotion, but rather a ritualistic ceremony performed as part of a sacred observance.

According to the scriptural version, during a grand ritual, Krishna was to be weighed on a Tulabharam (sacred weighing scale) as part of a traditional offering. Satyabhama, as one of Krishna's principal wives, took the responsibility of performing the ritual. She followed the custom of offering gold and jewels to match Krishna's weight, as per the prescribed religious rites. However, despite adding immense treasures, Krishna's side of the scale remained heavier.

Recognizing that divine presence cannot be measured by material wealth, Satyabhama prayed with humility and faith. Following the ritual guidance of the sages, she placed a single tulsi leaf on the scale, invoking her pure devotion. Instantly, the scale balanced, emphasizing the spiritual principle that bhakti (devotion) holds greater value than material riches.

This version contrasts with later folk traditions, where Satyabhama is wrongly portrayed as being overconfident and needing Rukmini's help. In the scriptural account, she successfully completes the ritual on her own, reaffirming her devotion to Krishna and the divine significance of the Tulabharam ceremony.
The [[Devi Bhagavata Purana]] describes a version where Satyabhama, in a moment of passion, tied Krishna to a tree and gifted him to Narada, later redeeming him by paying an equivalent weight in gold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2013-05-15 |title=On the Devī's Highest Supremacy [Chapter 25] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/devi-bhagavata-purana/d/doc57188.html |access-date=2021-08-26 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

In the scriptures, Krishna's wives are described as having a harmonious and sisterly relationship rather than rivalry. The Bhagavata Purana and other texts emphasize their devotion to Krishna and mutual respect.

==See also==
*[[Ashta Lakshmi]]
*[[Junior wives of Krishna]]
*[[Ashtasakhi]]
*[[Gopi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Consorts of Krishna]]
[[Category:Characters in the Bhagavata Purana]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Ashtabharya - Revision history

Surojit098 at 09:05, 5 April 2026