Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Rukmini included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, 鈥榯he five characteristics of a Purana鈥�).
Story of 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�
The chief queen of 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺.
Birth.
From the following Pur膩峁噄c statements, it could be understood that 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹� was the incarnation of goddess 尝补办峁墨.
(i) "艢r墨 顿别惫墨 (尝补办峁墨) by her portions, took birth in the earth as 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹� in the family of 叠丑墨峁补办补". (M.B, 膧di Parva, Chapter 67, Stanza 156).
(ii) Formerly 尝补办峁墨 顿别惫墨 took birth as the daughter of 叠丑峁沢耻 by his wife 碍丑测腻迟颈. Next she took birth from the sea of Milk at the time of the churning of it by the combined efforts of the devas and the asuras, to take 础尘峁泃补 (ambrosia). When 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 took birth as 膧诲颈迟测补, 尝补办峁墨 took birth from lotus. When 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 incarnated as 笔补谤补艣耻谤腻尘补 尝补办峁墨 顿别惫墨 became the earth-goddess. In the incarnation of 艢r墨 R膩ma she became 厂墨迟腻 and in that of 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 she was 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�. (痴颈峁ａ箛耻 Pur膩峁嘺, 础峁兣沘 1, Chapter 9).
It was in the kingdom of Vidarbha that 尝补办峁墨 顿别惫墨 took birth as 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹� during the incarnation of 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺. To 叠丑墨峁补办补, the King of Vidarbha, five sons beginning with 搁耻办尘墨, were born. The sixth was a daughter who was named 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�. She grew up into a beautiful damsel. (叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补, Skandha 10).
Marriage.
搁耻办尘颈峁嚹� fell in love with 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺. Her parents agreed to her choice. But her brother 搁耻办尘墨 was an enemy of 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺. 搁耻办尘墨 desired to give his sister to 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补. The date of the marriage was fixed and the heart was burning within 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�. She sent a Brahmin as messenger to 碍峁涐梗峁嘺.
The time of marriage drew near. The kings of 础峁単补, 碍补濒颈峁単补, 惭腻濒补惫补, Kekaya, 痴补峁単补, Magadha, Kosala, 厂腻濒惫补, Cola, 笔腻峁囜笉测补, Kerala and so on took their seats in the nuptial hall. 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 and Balabhadra came with their army. The army under the leadership of Balabhadra remained behind and 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 went alone to the nuptial hall. While preparations were being made to give 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹� to 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补, 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 took her in his chariot and quickly left the place. All the other kings who ran after 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 to fight had to confront with the mighty army of Balabhadra, who defeated the kings and returned to 顿惫腻谤补办腻. (叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补, Skandha 10).
Sons.
It is mentioned in 叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补, Skandha 10, that ten sons were born to 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 by 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�. They were Pradyumna, 颁腻谤耻诲别峁ａ箛补, 厂耻诲别峁ａ箛补, 颁腻谤耻诲别丑补, 厂耻肠腻谤耻, 颁腻谤耻驳耻辫迟补, 叠丑补诲谤补肠腻谤耻, 颁腻谤耻肠补苍诲谤补, 颁腻谤耻产丑补诲谤补 and 颁腻谤耻. But a slight difference is observed in the description of the sons of R奴kmi峁嚹� given in 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补, 础苍耻艣腻蝉补苍补 Parva, Chapter 14, Stanzas 33 and 34.
Yoked to the chariot by 顿耻谤惫腻蝉补蝉.
Consoled Arjuna.
After the death of 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺, Arjuna visited 顿惫腻谤补办腻. Seeing the dilapidated city without rulers and the women without husbands, he cried aloud. 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹� 顿别惫墨 ran to him and consoled him and seated him on a golden chair. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 Mausala Parva, Chapter 5, Stanza 12).
Death.
After the death of 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺, 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�, with the other wives of 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 jumped into a burning pyre and died.
"艢补颈产测腻, 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�, 骋腻苍诲丑腻谤墨, 贬补颈尘补惫补迟墨 and 闯腻尘产补惫补迟墨 jumped into the fire." (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 Mausala Parva, Chapter 7, Stanza 73).
The Palace of 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�.
There is a statement in the 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补, 顿腻办峁峁嚹乼测补 笔腻峁环补, 厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 28, about the palace of 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�. "痴颈艣惫补办补谤尘腻 built a palace for 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 at the instance of Indra. The highest dome of it is covered with gold. So this dome dazzled as the peak of 惭补丑腻尘别谤耻. It was this dome that was set apart for his beloved wife 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹� by 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺".