Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Rohini included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).
Story of Rohiṇī
The mother of Balabhadrarāma.
General information.
Vasudeva had two wives Devakī and Rohiṇī. Śrī Kṛṣṇa was born from Devakī and Balabhadrarāma from Rohiṇī.
Previous Birth of Rohiṇī.
Vasudeva was the rebirth of Prajāpati Kaśyapa. When Kaśyapa took birth as Vasudeva, his two wives Aditi and Surasā took birth as Devakī and Rohiṇī respectively. (They took birth thus, because of the curse of Varuṇa. For details of the curse see under Kaśyapa, para 6).
The birth of Balabhadra.
The seventh child of Devakī was placed in the womb of Rohiṇī and Balabhadrarāma was born. (For this story see under Kṛṣṇa, para 6, Kaṃsa, para 6 and Ṣaḍarbhaka).
Death.
As soon as a messenger named Dāruka brought the news that the entire race of the Yādavas had perished in Dvārakā,
"because of grief, Vasudeva, Devakī and Rohiṇī forsook their bodies." (Bhāgavata, Skandha 11).