Subhadra

Subhadra
Arjuna and Subhadra. Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Other names	Bhadra, Chitra
Devanagari	सुभद्रा
Affiliation	Devi, Yogamaya, Bhuvaneshwari
Texts	Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, Brahma Purana
Personal information
Parents	Vasudeva (father) Rohini (mother)
Siblings	Balarama Krishna
Consort	Arjuna
Children	Abhimanyu
Dynasty	Yaduvamsha – Chandravamsha

Subhadra (Sanskrit: सुभद्रा, romanized: Subhadrā) is a Hindu goddess mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures like the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana. She is described as the favourite child of Vasudeva and the younger sister of deities Krishna and Balarama. According to the Mahabharata, Arjuna—one of the Pandava brothers—married her, with whom she bore one son, Abhimanyu.

Subhadra is one of the three deities worshipped at the Jagannath Temple at Puri, along with Krishna (as Jagannatha) and Balarama (or Balabhadra). One of the chariots in the annual Ratha Yatra is dedicated to her.

Etymology and epithets

The word 'Subhadra' is made up of two words 'su' and 'bhadra'. Many scholars translate this name into 'glorious', 'fortunate', 'splendid' or 'auspicious'.

• Chitra (चित्रा) - the text Harivamsa mentions Chitra (lit. bright, clear, excellent or colourful) as her birth name.

• Bhadra (भद्रा) - sister of Balbhadra

• Veer Sōdari (वीर सोदरी) - sister of a hero (Krishna)

• Veer Patni (वीर पत्नी) - wife of a hero (Arjuna)

• Veer Mata (वीर माता) - mother of a hero (Abhimanyu)

• Balramsodari (बलराम सोडारी) - sister of Balarama

Subhadra is often identified with the Vrishni goddess Ekanamsha, and thus it is considered as her other name.

Marriage

File:Arjuna kidnaps Subhadra.jpg

Arjuna abducts Subhadra with Krishna's consent.

When Arjuna was in the midst of self-imposed pilgrimage, for breaking terms of the agreement he had with his brothers regarding private time with their common wife Draupadi. After he reached the city of Dvaraka and met Krishna, he attended a festival held at Raivata mountain. There Arjuna saw his first cousin Subhadra and was smitten by her beauty and wished to marry her. Krishna revealed that she was Vasudeva's child, and his sister. Krishna stated that he couldn't predict Subhadra's decision at her swayamvara (self choice ceremony) and advised Arjuna to elope with Subhadra. After Arjuna sent a letter to Yudhishthira for permission, he drove a chariot to the hills and took the smiling Subhadra with him. After Subhadra's guards unsuccessfully attempted to stop them, the Yadavas, the Vrishnis, and the Andhakas held a meeting to discuss the matter. After Krishna comforted them, they agreed, and thus, Arjuna married Subhadra with Vedic rituals.

Subhadra elopes from Dvaraka with her lover, Arjuna.

The Bhagavata Purana narrates about Balarama's picking of Duryodhana's son, Lakshmana Kumara as Vatsala’s groom without taking her consent and also her reciprocation to feelings of Arjuna. Knowing that after getting the news of Vatsala's to elope, Balarama would wage a war against Arjuna, Krishna decided he will be the charioteer for Arjuna. Arjuna proceeds to take Vatsala and with Krishna, in tow, they leave. After getting the news that Vatsala has eloped with Arjuna. Finally, Balarama consents and conduct the marriage of Vatsala with Arjuna in Dvaraka.

However, the interpretation of the Mahabharata referred to as the 'Southern Recension' totally differs in presenting the Subhadra Harana Parva. It is a love story, not one-sided but from both sides. It is also a bit more elaborated on the event. As soon as Arjuna reaches Prabhasa, he remembers Gada’s words, describing Subhadra’s beauty and virtues. He takes the form of an ascetic, sits under a Vata Vriksha, thinking about Subhadra. He feels that with the help of Krishna, he can get Subhadra as his wife. Meanwhile in Dvaraka, Krishna smiles in his sleep and Satyabhama asks him the reason for his happiness. He tells her about the situation of Arjuna. Thereafter, Krishna gets up and reaches Prabhasa, where he meets Arjuna and takes him to the Raivataka mountain. After a few days, all the prominent Yadavas happened to go to Raivataka to celebrate a festival. Arjuna and Krishna roamed together. Subhadra also arrives there, and Arjuna gets enchanted by her beauty. Krishna teases Arjuna, reminding him of his ascetic status. Krishna then suggests Arjuna to take Subhadra with him, as it is acceptable for Kshatriyas. Balarama meets the ascetic, honours him, and invites him to live in the gardens of Subhadra. Subhadra starts tending to every need of the ascetic. Arjuna, on the other hand, is passionately in love on seeing Subhadra before his own eyes. Subhadra observes him and finds the similarity of Arjuna, her aunt’s son, about whom she has heard from Gada and Krishna. One evening, Subhadra starts enquiring the young ascetic about Indraprastha, and the third Pandava prince. Arjuna immediately reveals his identity. A great ritual for Shiva is planned at an island near Dvaraka. All the Yadavas, with Balarama at the head, leave for worship. Seeing the opportunity, Arjuna elopes with Subhadra, and marries her. Indra and Shachi descend to perform the wedding rituals.

Impression on Draupadi

File:Subhdra in the service of Kunti and Draupadi.jpg

Subhadra meets Draupadi and Kunti

When Arjuna returned from his exile to Indraprastha along with Subhadra, he was welcomed by Kunti and his brothers. When he asked about Draupadi, his brothers told him that she is in rage and doesn't want to meet anybody. To save her husband from Draupadi's rage, Subhadra went to the chamber of the fire born empress in the attire of a simple cowherd. When Draupadi asked who she was, Subhadra replied that she is her maid. Subhadra then fell down to Draupadi's feet and told her that she never wants to replace her. After such humility, Draupadi hugged Subhadra and accepted her as a younger sister.

Worship

Subhadra in the middle with her brothers Balabhadra (Balarama) and Jagannath (Krishna)

Subhadra (in Jagannath Temple, Puri)

Subhadra is one of the three deities worshipped at the Jagannath temple at Puri, along with Krishna (as Jagannatha) and Balarama (or Balabhadra). One of the chariots in the annual Ratha Yatra is dedicated to her. Apart from it she is also believed to be worshipped by certain communities in Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat and Bangladesh.*

There is a village called Bhadrajun in the western part of Rajasthan where Subhadra is worshiped as Dhumda mata since the time of Mahabharata. It is believed that, after eloping with her lover Arjuna and a gruelling journey of three days, the couple got married here.

Many Hindus believe Subhadra to be the reincarnation of goddess Yogmaya who took birth to save Krishna’s life from the wicked Kamsa

Balarama, Lakshmi (Subhadra), Vasudev (Krishna, Jagannath) idols in early 11th century

In some texts like the Brahma Purana and the Garga Samhita, Subhadra is mentioned as Devi Shatarupa with Arjuna being Svayambhuva Manu. She is also worshiped as Mata Bhuvaneshvari in some sects. Apart from it, Subhadra is sometimes linked with Goddess Lakshmi by some Vaishnavas.

Death

After Parikshit was seated on the throne, while leaving for heaven, Yudhishthira gave the responsibility of keeping both the kingdoms Hastinapura ruled by her grandson and Indraprastha being ruled by Vajranabha, great-grandson of her brother Krishna in harmony. There is no specific mention in the epic about how and when she died but it is believed that after the Pandavas along with Draupadi reached heaven, Subhadra and her daughter-in-law (Uttarā) went to the forest to dwell the rest of their lives as hermits.

In popular culture

• In B. R. Chopra's series Mahabharat (1988), Subhadra was portrayed by Aloka Mukherjee.
• In the Hindi TV series Krishna, Subhadra was portrayed by Sonia Kapoor.
• In Star Plus's series Mahabharat (2013), Subhadra was portrayed by Veebha Anand.
• In Star Bharat's popular series RadhaKrishn, Subhadra is portrayed by Aanchal Goswami.

See also

• Shri Krishna
• Arjuna
• Abhimanyu
• Balarama

Sources

• Monier-Williams, Sir Monier; Leumann, Ernst; Cappeller, Carl (1899). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages. Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-208-3105-6.
• Mani, Vettam (1975). Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0597-2.
• Ph.D, Lavanya Vemsani (13 June 2016). Krishna in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-211-3.
• Ganguli, Kisari Mohan (1883). "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Subhadra-harana Parva: Section CCXXI". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
• Hawley, John Stratton; Wulff, Donna Marie (1982). The Divine Consort: Rādhā and the Goddesses of India. Motilal Banarsidass Publishe. ISBN 978-0-89581-102-8.
• Srivastava, Diwaker Ikshit (11 December 2017). Decoding the Metaphor Mahabharata. One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5201-000-4.