What is the sthala katha — the legend — of Rukmini Devi Temple?

High medieval · Hindu · India

Rukmini Devi Temple

રુકમણી દેવી મંદિર

Dwarka, Gujarat · 22.2573°, 68.9644°

Rukmini, chief queen of Krishna and an incarnation of LakshmiUndeterminedRichly carved, with narathara and gajathara panels at the base of the tower

Sacred since

1100 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

12th c.; present structure 19th c.

Undetermined

History & significance

A carved temple about 2 km outside Dwarka housing a marble image of Rukmini holding conch, discus, mace and lotus. Local custom holds that a pilgrimage to Dwarka is complete only after worshipping here.

Sthala katha — the legend

The Skanda Purana explains the temple's distance from Krishna's own shrine by the curse of the sage Durvasa, who condemned the couple to live apart for twelve years after Rukmini offered water to Krishna before him.

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