The Vedantic Truth In Rukmini's Marriage

By Staff

Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 14:51

Rukminikalyana is not simply the story of a marriage. It is the union of Purusha (the male principle) with Prakriti (the material nature) itself. The brahmin intermediary is the symbol of vedic authority through which the merging of the two is known. Rukminî is the Jîva (the individual soul) and Krishna is the Paramatma (the supersoul). She is suffering from the rules and restrictions imposed by prakriti, ahamkara (false ego derived from being identified with the body) is her brother and worldliness is her father. But on account of her sadachara (good conduct), her mind rested on God.

Rukmini was hence able to plan a method of reaching God. Her prayers, repentance, yearning and steadfastness were rewarded. Her observance of the age-old code of good conduct at last saved her, for, she went out for the Girija (Ambika) puja, before the marriage rite.

In that temple she was immersed in the worship of God and so she was liberated from the bonds by the God who was lying in wait! The parents and the brother and all the relatives objected but, an individual is born to work out its destiny, not to live out the days according to the plans laid down by others, however dear or near they may be .