This is one of the questions asked about Shri Krishna. How many wives did Shri Krishna have? Why were there so many wives? Was Shri Krishna really God? Etc.
So in this article we will explain to you authentically from the scriptures how many wives Krishna had. Why was it?
Before knowing about Krishna’s wives, it is important to understand who Krishna actually was? If we take the scriptures as a basis and also look at their activities, then it would be foolish to see them as ordinary human beings. He was considered Yogeshwar even after living with 16108 wives. Even then he was called a celibate.
एते चांशकलाः पुंसः कृष्णस्तु भगवान् स्वयम् |
इन्द्रारिव्याकुलं लोकं मृडयन्ति युगे युगे ||
– Bhagwat Mahapuran 1.3.28
So discussing this further would be tantamount to not respecting time, so let us come to the point.
How many wives did Krishna have?
Krishna had 8 main wives and after saving 16100 from Narakasura, when no one was accepting all of them, then Shri Krishna accepted them as wives. (There are many deep secrets hidden in this too)
Rukmini (Vaidarbhi, Visalakshi, Bhaishmaki): Princess of Vidarbha and daughter of Bhishmaka, Rukmini’s love story with Krishna is one of valor and romance. When she was being forced into marriage with Shishupala, she heroically eloped with Krishna. Their union bore several children, including Pradyumna and Charudeshna.
Satyabhama (Suganthi, Kamalakshi, Satrajiti): Hailing from the Yadava clan and daughter of Satrajit, Satyabhama was married to Krishna following the Syamantaka episode. She bore Krishna numerous children, including Bhanu and Subhanu.
Jambavati (Narendraputri, Kapindraputri, Pauravi): Daughter of Jambavan, Jambavati’s marriage to Krishna was also a result of the Syamantaka episode. Their union resulted in several children, with Samba being one of the most notable.
Kalindi (Yamuna): Daughter of Surya and Saranyu, Kalindi performed rigorous austerities to win Krishna as her husband. Their marriage produced several children, including Shruta and Kavi.
Nagnajiti (Satya, Kausalya): Princess of Kosala and daughter of Nagnajit, Nagnajiti’s svayamvara saw Krishna defeating seven bulls to win her hand in marriage. Their union bore several children, including Vira and Chandra.
Mitravinda: Princess of Avanti and daughter of Jayasena and Rajadhidevi, Mitravinda chose Krishna as her husband in sva heryamvara. However, Krishna had to defeat her brothers in battle to take her away, as they disapproved of the union. Their marriage resulted in several children, including Vrika and Harsha.
Lakshmana (Lakshana, Charuhasini, Madri): Hailing from Madra and daughter of Brihatsena, Lakshmana was abducted from her svayamvara by Krishna, who defeated rival suitors in the process. Their union produced several children, including Praghosha and Gatravan.
Bhadra (Kaikeyi): Princess of Kekaya and daughter of Dhrishtaketu and Shrutakirti, Bhadra was married to Krishna through the arrangements of her brothers. Their marriage bore several children, including Sangramajit and Brihatsena.
Why did Krishna married to other 16100? (Junior Wives of Sri Krishna)
These women were initially held captive by the demon king Narakasura. When Krishna defeated Narakasura, he saved these women. She requested Krishna to marry her to protect her dignity, and he accepted.
Rohini is sometimes said to be the most prominent of these junior wives. Before being captured by Narakasura, these women were princesses, daughters of gods, saints, demons and kings. There were also some divine spirits who were called Apsaras.
There are legends that explain why these women became the wives of Krishna. In one story, a king had 16,000 daughters who were cursed to be born as humans. Later they were blessed to become the wives of Krishna in the next life.
Narakasura had imprisoned these women in his kingdom. When Krishna defeated them, he saved them. Each of them requested Krishna to marry them, and he agreed.
After their marriage, Krishna provided each wife with a house and many servants. He had the divine ability to divide himself into multiple forms, allowing him to spend time with each wife simultaneously.
There are stories of how Krishna managed to be with all his 16,108 wives at the same time. In one such story, sage Narada visits each of Krishna’s wives and finds that Krishna is present in every house.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the life and stories of Shri Krishna are deeply rooted in the scriptures, revealing a divine being who is beyond the understanding of ordinary mortals. His marriages, especially those with his 8 principal wives and his subsequent 16,100 junior wives, are not mere stories of romance, but symbolize his divine nature and the profound mysteries of the universe.
These stories, especially his acceptance of 16,100 women after saving them from Narakasura, show his immense compassion and commitment to dharma. It is important to approach these narratives with reverence and an open heart, understanding that these are not mere historical accounts but deep spiritual teachings.
To our respected readers of Vrindavanrasmrit.in, we express our heartfelt gratitude for traveling with us through this exploration of the life of Shri Krishna. Your quest for knowledge and understanding is commendable, and we hope that this article has shed light on some profound aspects of Krishna’s life.
May your spiritual journey always be prosperous and may the blessings of Shri Krishna always be upon you. Thank you for choosing Vrindavanrasmrit.in as your source of spiritual knowledge. For an immersive experience, delve into the Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari bhajan & Vishnu Sahasranamam, resonating with devotion.and also click here for our Radha-Krishna gallery, a visual homage to their undying love story.
