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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Hunchbacked woman, who the Hindu god Krishna is described to have rescued and made beautiful}}<br />
{{cleanup|reason=Article needs wikifying and copyediting|date=January 2014}}<br />
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{{Infobox deity<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology--><br />
|type = Hindu<br />
|image = Krishna Accepts an Offering from the Hunchbacked Woman Trivakra.jpg<br />
|caption=Krishna accepts an offering from the hunchbacked woman, Trivakra (Kubja)<br />
|name = Kubja<br />
|Devanagari = कुब्जा <br />
|affiliation = Trivakra<br />
|texts = [[Brahmavaivarta Purana]], [[Bhagavata Purana]], Sur Sagar<br />
|consort = [[Krishna]] (spiritual)<ref>Brahmavaivarta Purana Sri-Krishna Janma Khanda (Fourth Canto) Chapter 72 Englishtranslation by Shantilal Nagar Parimal Publications Book 2 Page 477 Link: https://archive.org/details/brahma-vaivarta-purana-all-four-kandas-english-translation</ref><br />
|abode = [[Goloka]]<br />
}}<br />
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'''Kubja''' is a hunchbacked woman from [[Mathura]], who the Hindu god [[Krishna]] is described to have rescued and made beautiful.<br />
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The episode is described in the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', ''[[Brahmavaivarta Purana]]'' and the ''Sur sagar'' by [[Surdas]].<br />
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==Background==<br />
The ''Bhagavata Purana'' narrates that after meeting his friend [[Sudama]], Krishna and his elder brother [[Balarama]] walked through the streets of Mathura and encountered Kubja, a young hunchback maidservant of the king [[Kamsa]]. She had a beautiful face and carried a plate of ointment with her. Krishna praises her beauty and asks for ointment in return for a boon. She introduces herself as Trivakra, one who is bent in three places. Mesmerized by Krishna's charm, she grants him the ointment that she was taking for the king. Pleased, Krishna presses his toes on her feet and placed a finger of both his hands under her chin and raises the fingers, which straightened her body.Kubja gets overcome with desire for her saviour and pulls the upper garment of Krishna, inviting him to her house. However, Krishna politely declines and promises to return to her house, after fulfilling the purpose of his visit.<ref>[http://vedabase.net/sb/10/42/en2 Bhagavata Purana 10.42] by [[Prabhupada]]</ref><ref>Pauwels pp. 331-2</ref><br />
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Surdas's poetry mentions the episode in a passing reference, however the focus in the text is the saving grace of God, who does not discriminate in devotees and helps even a low class maidservant Kubja.<ref>Pauwels pp. 330, 332</ref>In the ''Bhagavata Purana'', after slaying Kamsa, Krishna visits Kubja with [[Uddhava]] as promised. Kubja worships Krishna with her companions and offers him a seat of honour. As Kubja readied herself for Krishna, Krishna made himself comfortable in Kubja's bed in the inner chambers.By embracing him, Kubja's desire is fulfilled. She requests Krishna to stay with her for some time, however Krishna left for Uddhava's residence, promising he will fulfil her desires again.<ref>Pauwels pp. 333-4</ref><ref>[http://vedabase.net/sb/10/48/en2 Bhagavata Purana 10.48] by [[Prabhupada]]</ref><br />
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Surdas talks about the second meeting of Kubja and Krishna in more detail. He mentions that Kubja's fortune is due to her virtue in a previous life. After killing Kamsa, Krishna hurries to Kubja's house to fulfil her desire.<ref>Pauwels p. 335</ref><br />
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In the ''Brahma Vaivarta Purana'', Kubja is the reincarnation of [[Shurpanakha]], a demoness who vied for [[Rama]], Krishna's previous birth on earth. Surpanaka's penance is rewarded in her birth as Kubja, when her desire to unite with Rama is fulfilled. <ref>Pauwels pp. 336</ref> Hence she receives Krishna (reincarnation of Rama) as husband (spiritually). After the union with Krishna she received Goloka and became a cowherdess named Candramukhi.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/brahma-vaivarta-purana-all-four-kandas-english-translation Brahmavaivarta Purana Book 2 Page 477] </ref><br />
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Classical works like the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' do not record the visit of Krishna to Kubja's house.<ref>Pauwels p. 337</ref><br />
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==In popular culture==<br />
The story of Kubja appears in the beginning and the end of the 2019 film ''[[Bala (2019 film)|Bala]]'', in the form of a school play.<ref>News 18. [https://www.news18.com/news/movies/if-you-criticise-directly-people-will-not-listen-says-bala-director-amar-kaushik-2400479.html If You Criticise Directly, People will Not Listen, Says Bala Director Amar Kaushik] 26 November 2019.</ref> The reference is made in relation to an underlying theme of [[colorism]] in the film.<br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==References==<br />
* {{cite book|author=Heidi R.M. Pauwels|title=The Goddess as Role Model|date=11 September 2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-970857-4|chapter=The Threat of the Other Woman: Free-Spirited Surpanaka and Sosphisticated Kubja}}<br />
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[[Category:People related to Krishna]]<br />
[[Category:Fictional hunchbacks]]</div>2601:405:4780:6A0:B04B:C49D:2629:90B1