| Type: | Hindu |
| Spouse: | Vasudeva |
| Children: | Balarama (surrogate child), Sarana, Shatha,Sharu,Subhra,Pindaraka, Ushinara Sishirayana,Mahabhaga, Manusha(sons)Subhadra (daughter) |
| Father: | Bahlika |
| Texts: | Mahabharata |
| Venerated In: | Vaishnavism |
| Dynasty: | Chandravamsha (by marriage) |
| Siblings: | Somadatta and Pauravi |
In Hindu mythology, Rohini (sa|रोहिणी|lit=Ascending,)[1] is the first consort of Vasudeva, the sister of Yashoda,[2] and the mother of the Hindu deities Balarama and Subhadra. She plays a prominent role in the upbringing of Krishna.[3] [4]
Rohini is described as the daughter of the king Bahlika, making her a cousin of Bheeshma. She is married to Vasudeva, a descendant of Yadu, a Chandravamsha king. Her sister, Pauravi, was also married to Vasudeva.[5]
Vasudeva also married Devaki, a princess of Mathura. The couple is imprisoned by Devaki's brother Kamsa, soon after their marriage. as a divine prophecy predicted Kamsa's death by Devaki's eighth son.
While Vasudeva is imprisoned, Rohini lives at the house of her husband's cousin[6] [7] Nanda, in Vraja. While all previous sons of Devaki are slain, the seventh embryo is transferred to Rohini's womb. Rohini gives birth to Balarama.[5]
Krishna, the eighth child of Devaki, was exchanged with the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda in secrecy. Yashoda (foster-mother of Krishna) and Rohini play an important nurturing Krishna and Balarama in their childhood.[5]
After Vasudeva is freed by Krishna and Balarama, Rohini gives birth to a daughter, Subhadra.[8]
In the epic Mahabharata, after the death of Vasudeva after the Yadava massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra, and Madira.[9]
Balarama is given the matronymic epithet Rauhineya, "son of Rohini". In the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Rohini is said to be an avatar of Kadru, mother of the serpents (naga); Balarama is considered an avatar of Vishnu's mount, Shesha.[5]
In Jain tales related to Krishna and Balarama, Rohini is the princess of Kosala who chooses Vasudeva as her husband in a swayamvara ceremony. She spends her life in Saurapura with Vasudeva, where she gives birth to Balarama. She sees four dreams in the Jain narrative: a lion, a white elephant, the moon and the ocean; symbols associated with Balarama in Hinduism as well as Jainism. Rohini plays no part in nurturing Krishna in Vraja; she takes care of Balarama in Saurapura. The adult Balarama goes to Vraja to aid Krishna.