Ashtabharya

The Ashtabharya (Sanskrit: अष्टभार्या, romanized: Aṣṭabhāryā) or Ashta-bharya(s) is the group of eight principal queen-consorts of Hindu god Krishna, the king of Dvaraka, Saurashtra[1] in the Dvapara Yuga (epoch).

The most popular list, found in the Bhagavata Purana, includes: Rukmini, Jambavati, Satyabhama, Kalindi, Nagnajiti, Mitravinda, Lakshmana and Bhadra.

The texts also mention the many children Krishna fathered by the Ashtabharya, the most prominent being the crown-prince Pradyumna,[5] son of Rukmini.

The third group of wives consisted of Mitravinda and Bhadra, his patriarchal cousins representing his Yadava clan called Satvata.

While her parents consented to her wedding with her groom of choice, Rukmini's brother Rukmi fixed her marriage with his friend Shishupala.

[13][14] Rukmini is traditionally considered to be the favourite and the primary wife of Krishna, the latter's partiality towards her often provoking the ire of his second consort of Satyabhama.

When accused by Satrajit of stealing the jewel, Krishna goes in its search and finally following trials of the corpses of Prasena and the lion, confronts Jambavan.

When the presumed dead Krishna returns to Dvaraka, a humiliated Satrajit begs his forgiveness and offers Satyabhama's hand in marriage along with the jewel.

At Satyabhama's behest, Krishna also defeats Indra, the king of heaven and the gods and gets the celestial parijata tree for her after he had previously acquired it for Rukmini.

Ashtabharya with Krishna - 19th Century Mysore painting depicting Krishna with his eight principal consorts.
Krishna with his two principal queens. (From left) Rukmini, Krishna , Satyabhama and his mount Garuda .
Rukmini as the main consort of Vithoba , a regional form of Krishna.
Krishna and Satyabhama fighting Narakasura's armies -Painting from the Metropolitan Museum