Krishna’s Rukmini, Radha & 16k Wives

What’s up with Radha rani, Rukmini & 16,000 wives of Krishna? Here’s the tea.

First, you have to understand that in Hinduism, we often have certain Leelas or tales which are symbolic & teach us certain life lessons or morals. And second, Hindus believe that God shares a personal relationship with each & every one of us that’s very individual & separate - so we shouldn’t be comparing any of Krishna’s actions to their literal inappropriate meanings in the modern world.

In this sense, Radha’s love for Krishna & their partnership, although they never married, is supposed stand as a symbol of the individual soul wanting to merge with the Supersoul, the Bhraman in a process called moksha.

On the other hand, Krishna married Rukmini, who was the princess of King Bhishmaka in Vidarbha, because she was getting married against her wishes to Shishupala, so Krishna came in to rescue & take her away - so their story is a symbol of God coming to save us & it’s an act of courage or bravery.

As for the 16,000 wives, they were princesses who had been enslaved by the demon called Narakasura so when Krishna fought & destroyed him, he realised that society wouldn’t accept the freed slaves or treat them well, so he only married them to protect their honor & dignity.

Last, even with tale of little Krishna stealing the clothes of Gopi, there’s a backstory of how the gopis were already absorbed in his conciousness so his prank was a playful way of reciprocating their pure desire for him.

Krishna did have kids with many of his 8 main wives but for anyone questions or doubts Krishna’s treatment of women, remember that he was the only one who stepped in when everybody else was quiet, including her husbands, while Draupadi in Mahabharat was being harassed.

So he’s always been a protector of women’s dignity & has taken the form of their partner only to reciprocate their pure love.