The Weighing of Love

This fascinating story of Tulabharam first originated in Vijayanagar during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya. It is believed that the story was written by his court poet using Krishna as a metaphor for their own king, who was a namesake, whose first wife thought he gave more importance to the second. Nowhere before that was this story originally found, and most interestingly, Tulabharam became quite a ritual in medieval India after this story, especially in the courts of the Mughals and Rajputs.

Satyabhama was the second wife of Lord Krishna. He married her after his marriage to Rukmini. Proud of her nature, Satyabhama was very confident; her husband's heart was hers, and she had full control over him, unlike his other wives. Every girl dreamt of his Leela, but she was the one who stole his heart by helping him kill the rakshas. Her arrogance was such that she told his 16000 other wives that she was his chief consort. Narad Muni seemed amused watching this. He decided to intervene.

He visited Satyabhama one day at Dwarka and, in a jest, brought up the topic of her husband's chief consort.

" Narayan, Narayan, Rani Satyabhama, pardon my interference, but I feel you are wrong. Lord Vasudeva's heart belongs more to his first wife than to you. After all, he chose to elope with her."

" That is not true. He married 16000 other women because I said so."

" He married them because it was the right thing to do. It was Dharma."

" Tell me what I have to do to prove that he belongs to me." Satyabhama was angry and adamant to prove him wrong.

" Narayan, Narayan. There is one way." Narad smiled. "Tulabharam."

"What is that?" Satyabhama seemed clueless.

" Give him away in Daan to a Brahmin. Then, on a scale, place him on one side, and place wealth equal to his weight on the other side. If you give that wealth away to that Brahmin in return for your husband, he is believed to be yours. Are you willing to give away your wealth, jewellery and expensive ornaments to me in exchange for your husband?"

" I will do anything for him, Munivar."

Krishna marrying Satyabhama

The preparations were made, and Satyabhama gave Vasudeva Krishna away on Daan to Narada. The Large scale was ordered, and Krishna was placed on one side of it. Krishna remained a mute spectator of his wife's will to win him over. She loaded the empty scale with all her jewellery. The bar did not move. She placed her golden ornaments, furniture, clothes and everything else she possessed. Still, Krishna's side was heavier. Worried, the helpless Satyabhama summoned the 16000 other wives. They gave away their expensive wealth as well. The scale was full, yet the bar did not move. Krishna sat heavily. Narada smiled. Krishna was his. The wives started crying in dismay.

Rukmini, Princess of Vaidharva, the first wife of the lord, was out by the seaside with her firstborn, Pradumnya. A maid reached her in a hurry.

" Please, Vaidharvi Rukmini, please go immediately to the Palace. See what is happening." She was crying.

Rukmini grew worried. " What happened, Daasi? Why are you in tears?" The Daasi narrated what had happened. Rukmini seemed calm. She went to the gardens. The palace courtyard was full of people from all over Dwarka. They were standing, worried and awestruck, at the spectacular turn of events they had just witnessed.

Rukmini entered the courtyard with a Tulsi leaf in hand. Satyabhama rushed to her, crying.

Rukmini and Krishna eloping

"Jiji, please save our husband with your wealth. Give your jewellery to the scale. Otherwise, Narad Muni will take him away." Satyabhama was helpless and in tears. A calm Rukmini took the blessings of Narada Muni. She then looked at Krishna. They smiled at each other. Rukmini then placed the leaf on his feet and sought his blessings. He blessed her with a smile, and immediately the bar moved, and the weight side was heavier. Everyone cheered for Queen Rukmini for keeping the Lord at Dwarka. Krishna rose to his feet, and Satyabhama sought his forgiveness for her arrogance.

" Narayan, Narayan, Rani Satyabhama, you cannot hold the Lord's heart by wealth or desire. You need to worship him and want him with pure love like Rani Rukmini. She holds his heart because she does not want control over him. Neither does she want him for herself. The Lord is everywhere, with everyone. He is not yours or mine, Rani Satyabhama. Narayan Narayan." Narada took their leave.

Today, Krishna and Rukmini are worshipped as a couple in the reincarnation of Narayan and Laxmi. At the places called Tulabharamareshwar and Tulabhraj, a scale representing this story is kept for this incident. They are worshipped at temples in parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra, as well as Vithoba and Rakhumai.

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The Indian Subcontinent is a diverse mix of cultures, religions and traditions that make up its value system. The moment we discuss the early Indian subcontinent and its religions, long before Buddhism or Jainism came into existence or the Abrahamic religions were introduced on the western coasts by travellers and traders, long before any invasion proved any sign of forced conversion, a layman’s idea of the Indian Subcontinent is that of a single unified culture. Historically speaking, that is far from the truth. The Indian Subcontinent, since the evidence of early civilisation has been found in its river banks, like that in Bhirrana or Mehrgarh, dating back to around 6000 BCE, has never had one unifying belief through its geographic boundaries. The terms Hindu, Hindustan and many others come originally from attributed to primary sources of the Ancient West Asian civilisation. But our history starts much earlier than that. And where there is society and civilisation, there is bound to ...

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