Rukmini

Throughout time, the Goddess manifests Herself in different ways - sometimes she is the wife or even the mother, sister or daughter of various Gods. Lord Krishna became the King of Dwarika and he was a warrior who fought adharma (injustice and unrighteousness). Rukmini was a manifestation of the Goddess who was a princess. Her brother had chosen her a husband but Rukmini longed to marry Krishna and she wrote him a secret letter. Krishna was impressed by her bhakti. He came to her and carried Rukmini away in front of her family. He married her and she was his main Queen and mother of his children.

Rukmini represents devotion, firmness, steadiness and loyalty to the Divine. She is also the embodiment of bravery and strength. She was always fascinated with Krishna's bravery in battle and she accompanied him when he fought the demon Naraka. Naraka had been given a boon that he could never be killed by a man. He threw a mace at Krishna which missed him but hit Rukmini. She raised up Krishna's mace and threw it at Naraka, killing him and saving the universe from a wicked foe. Rukmini means the radiance of shimmering gold. Rukmini was an incarnation of Lakshmi who is the goddess of wealth and is symbolized by dazzling gold coins and jewels. Rukmini was glowing with pure, spiritual light - the light of the Divine and self-realization of one who is united with an incarnation of Vishnu (Krishna).