The Story Behind
Syamantaka (Ruby) Krishna Weds Sathyabhāmā
The reason Krishna went to fight with the chieftain
was that Satrājita
was spreading rumors that Krishna killed his brother Prasena and took
the jewel. To atone his indiscretion, Jāmbavat
offered his daughter Jāmbavatī.
The Yādavas
who accompanied Krishna after waiting a week, could not locate Krishna
and went back to Dvārakā
and reported Krishna was killed by the chieftain. Krishna at the end of
the war returned to Dvārakā
with the jewel and a new bride Jāmbavatī.
Krishna surrendered the jewel to Satrājita and exonerated himself.
Satrājita
feeling contrite, offered his daughter Satyabhama as Krishna’s bride.
Multiple suitors were vying to wed Sathyabhāmā. They killed Satrājita in
his sleep and stole the jewel, which passed through many hands
eventually landing in the hands of Akrūra, one of the suitors. The
culprits agreed that the jewel would stay with Akrūra, who held it on
behalf of the Yādava clan.
Painting:
Rajasthan. C1590-1600. It depicts wedding of Krishna to Satyabhama,
officiated by a Brahmin priest. Source: intimate Worlds. |