Marriage of Krishna and Rukmini

The Hindu epic Mahabharata and the later Bhagavata Purana describe Krishna’s marriage to the beautiful and virtuous princess Rukmini (considered by some an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi; see painting nearby). Arranged against her will to be married to another, the texts tell of how Krishna arrived at the temple just before Rukmini’s wedding, took her away in a chariot to his golden city Dwarka, and married her instead.

This painting depicts Krishna and Rukmini’s wedding ceremony. She sits under a canopy beside the crowned blue-skinned god, her face demurely covered by her odhni (shawl or large scarf), as the priest officiates over the nuptial rituals. Set against a plain, dark background with no supporting details to describe a wedding—such as a golden palace, guests, lavish costumes, and presents, etc.—the painting poignantly focuses on the event’s intimacy.