Rakhumai

Rakhumai is the Marathi name for Rukmini, the chief queen of Krishna, and is revered as the consort of Vithoba in the Varkari tradition of Maharashtra. Her origins are rooted in the Puranas, where Rukmini is described as the daughter of King Bhishmaka of Vidarbha and the incarnation of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. The Bhagavata Purana (10.52-54) narrates how Krishna abducted Rukmini from her svayamvara to prevent her marriage to Shishupala, symbolizing divine love and the triumph of dharma. In the Varkari tradition, Rakhumai is inseparable from Vithoba, and together they are worshipped at the main temple in Pandharpur.

Iconographically, she is depicted standing to the left of Vithoba, wearing a crown and royal attire, with a serene and devoted expression, often holding a lotus. Her posture mirrors that of Vithoba, with hands on hips, signifying their unity. The Skanda Purana (Pandharpur Mahatmya) extols the sanctity of Pandharpur and the presence of Rukmini there. Rakhumai embodies devotion (bhakti), marital love, and the feminine aspect of the divine.

She is celebrated in numerous abhangas by Varkari saints such as Tukaram and Namdev, who sing of her grace and compassion. The Ashadhi Ekadashi and Kartiki Ekadashi are major festivals when millions of pilgrims visit Pandharpur. In regional worship, Rakhumai is especially venerated in Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka. Her role in Hindu cosmology is as the shakti or consort of Vithoba, representing the nurturing and protective aspect of the divine.

The abhanga literature, though not a formal scripture, is a key textual source for her worship. Rakhumai's worship emphasizes the ideal of devotion and surrender, and she is seen as a mother figure who intercedes for her devotees.

Depicted standing with Vithoba. Royal attire, crown. Serene, devoted expression.