Subhadra

Subhadra (IAST: Subhadrā) is a character in the Mahabharata which Hindu legend ascribes to Vyasa. In the epic, she is the sister of Krishna and Balarama, wife of Arjuna and mother of Abhimanyu and grandmother of Parikshit. She is the daughter of Vasudev and Rohini Devi. Subhadra is known as Veera sodari (brave sister), Veera Patni (brave wife) and Veera matha (brave mother) due to her relationship with Krishna, Arjuna and Abhimanyu respectively. 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. Subhadra was sister of balaram and half-sister of krishna (same father, different mothers). She also had many other siblings.

Subhadra
Incarnation of Goddess Yogmaya
Arjuna and Subhadra. Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Personal information
ParentsVasudev (father), Rohini Devi (mother), Devaki (step-mother)
SiblingsKrishna (half-brother) and Balarama (brother)
ConsortArjuna
OffspringAbhimanyu (son), Uttara (daughter-in-law) and Parikshit (grandson)
DynastyYadava

Kidnapping of Subhadra
Arjuna kidnaps Subhadra
Subhadra, the half sister of Krishna, drives a chariot away from Dwaraka with Arjuna.

Vyasa's Mahabharata, 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. He reached the city of Dwarka and meets Krishna with whom he spends time. Later he attends a festival held at Raivata mountain alongside Krishna. Other Yadava women including Subhadra were also there to see the festival. After seeing Subhadra, Arjuna is smitten by her beauty and wishes to marry her. Arjuna met with Krishna at night seeking advice about Subhadra and what action to take, Krishna said he does not know what will be her decision in a swayamvara advised Arjuna to kidnap Subhadra stating "in the case of Kshatriyas that are brave, a forcible abduction is applauded as the learned have said" Thus Arjuna agrees to kidnap Subhadra. Mahabharata does not opine about Subhadra's consent.[1]

Later, Bhagawat Purana narrates about Balarama's picking of Duryodhan as Subhadra’s groom without taking her consent and also her reciprocation to feelings of Arjuna.[2] Knowing that after getting the news of Subhadra's kidnap, Balarama would wage a war against Arjuna, Krishna decided he will be the charioteer for Arjuna. Arjuna Proceeds to kidnap Subhadra and with Krishna in tow they leave. After getting the news that Arjuna had kidnapped Subhadra and seeing Subhadra stowed on the chariot, Balarama and other Yadavas are angered by this and decide to pursue Arjuna who successfully held them off. After escaping Krishna returned and dissuaded them. Finally, Balarama consents and conduct the marriage of Subhadra with Arjuna in Dwarka.

Worship
The Wooden idol of Subhadra in the annual Rath yatra procession
Subhadra in the middle with her brothers Balabhadra (Balarama) and Jagannath (Krishna)
Maa Bhubaneshwari is worshipped instead of Subhadra during her fever.

Hindus believe Subhadra to be a goddess named Yogmaya. 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 and Gujarat.*[3]

See also

References
  1. "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Subhadra-harana Parva: Section CCXXI". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  2. Indians know all about Draupadi and Sita, but ignore what was done to Subhadra in Mahabharata The Print
  3. "Why Subhadra Is Worshipped With Krishna In Jagannath Yatra". indiatimes.com. indiatimes.com. July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  4. "Mahabharat cast: List of actors and the characters they play in the iconic show". RepublicWorld. 30 March 2020.
  5. "Mahabharat Star Plus cast | List Of Actors And The Characters They Play". republicworld. 9 May 2020.
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