Rohini | |
---|---|
Venerated in | Vaishnavism |
Texts | Mahabharata |
Personal information | |
Parents |
|
Siblings | Yashoda |
Spouse | Vasudeva |
Children | Balarama (surrogate child), Sarana, Sharu, Durmada[1] Subhadra (daughter) |
Dynasty | Chandravamsha (by marriage) |
In Hindu mythology, Rohini (Sanskrit: रोहिणी, rohiṇī) lit. '"ascending"'[2] is the first consort of Vasudeva, the sister of Yashoda,[3] and the mother of the Hindu deities Balarama and Subhadra. She plays a prominent role in the upbringing of Krishna.[4][5]
Rohini is described as the daughter of the king Bahlika, making her a cousin of Bheeshma. She is married to Vasudeva, a descendant of Yadu, a Chandravamsha king. Her sister, Pauravi, was also married to Vasudeva.[6]
Vasudeva also married Devaki, a princess of Mathura. The couple is imprisoned by Devaki's brother Kamsa, soon after their marriage. as a divine prophecy predicted Kamsa's death by Devaki's eighth son.
While Vasudeva is imprisoned, Rohini lives at the house of her husband's cousin[7][8] Nanda, in Vraja. While all previous sons of Devaki are slain, the seventh embryo is transferred to Rohini's womb. Rohini gives birth to Balarama.[6]
Krishna, the eighth child of Devaki, was exchanged with the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda in secrecy. Yashoda (foster-mother of Krishna) and Rohini play an important nurturing Krishna and Balarama in their childhood.[6]
After Vasudeva is freed by Krishna and Balarama, Rohini gives birth to a daughter, Subhadra.[9]
In the epic Mahabharata, after the death of Vasudeva after the Yadava massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra, and Madira.[10]
Balarama is given the matronymic epithet Rauhineya, "son of Rohini". In the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Rohini is said to be an avatar of Kadru, mother of the serpents (naga); Balarama is considered an avatar of Vishnu's mount, Shesha.[6]
In Jain tales related to Krishna and Balarama, Rohini is the princess of Kosala who chooses Vasudeva as her husband in a swayamvara ceremony. She spends her life in Saurapura with Vasudeva, where she gives birth to Balarama. She sees four dreams in the Jain narrative: a lion, a white elephant, the moon and the ocean; symbols associated with Balarama in Hinduism as well as Jainism. Rohini plays no part in nurturing Krishna in Vraja; she takes care of Balarama in Saurapura. The adult Balarama goes to Vraja to aid Krishna.[6]