RUKMINI DEVI
Dr. I. Achyuta Rao
Sitting on
the lap of her dear father, as a little girl of thirteen, Rukmini listened to
the heroic deeds of Lord Krishna, with rapt attention and deep admiration.
The NARRATION
was by Sage NARADA and it was in the form of devotional songs. Other listeners were pious courtiers of her
father and pet animals and birds in her courtyard.
Brooding over
the details, again and again with interest, for long, her mind got riveted on
Lord Krishna.
She started
to realise soon, that she loved Him, and none else. She told her father in confidence (and in whispers) that she
wanted to marry Him and Him only.
Her dear
father consented first. But her brother
Rukmi was opposed to the idea because he proposed her marriage with Sisupala,
the mighty King with great earthly possessions. The groom-select accepted the proposal, which pierced her heart
like an arrow. As her father yielded to
her brother’s intentions she was left helpless and hopeless.
The grand
marriage was fixed and the auspicious day was approaching fast. Wounded to the depth, the majesty of her
SOUL came forth spontaneously and she penned a letter with a single but
ingenious letter with a message of love and devotion. The letter was sent to Lord Krishna at Dwaraka through an old
brahmin.
The message
reads as under:
I submit my heart and soul at your feet.
I love you only.
I can not live without you.
I do not know your mind!
I am immature and tradition bound.
I am meek and helpless.
I am prepared to leave every one of my family
To seek your hand!
I do not know if it is right or wrong.
I am in utter confusion and tension.
I pray to you to accept my hand in marriage.
I think of a solution to achieve it fast! To seek your hand !
“Carry me
off, while I return
From Parvati temple,
Marry me
bravely, by force,
In ‘Rakshas Style’.
Take the
hints from my messenger.
Save me from the serious crisis.
“I fully
surrender to you
With utmost devotion.
I look
forward eagerly
To our eternal union”.
She waited
for the messenger to return with ‘a reply’.
She was all
tension and suspense.
At home,
marriage preparations were in full swing.
There was no sign of the messenger. She was making her own preparations
to end her life.
On the D’day,
the messenger was sighted at a distance.
From the radiance in his eyes, she guessed that his errand was a
success.
After hearing
the pleasant details from him, she did not know how to reward the poor brahmin
messenger.
SHE WASHED
HIS FEET WITH GRATEFUL TEARS!
What else did
the pious brahmin want except being instrumental for the UNION OF TWO GREAT
SOULS!