How Many Wives Did Krishna Have? The Ashtabharya and the 16,108 Explained
11 October 2026 · World of Hindus
Lord Krishna had 16,108 wives, by tradition: eight principal queens, known as the Ashtabharya, and 16,100 women he married after freeing them from the demon Narakasura. The number is famous, but the story behind it is less about romance than about compassion and dignity. Here are the eight queens, how each marriage came about, and what the 16,100 really means.
Krishna’s eight principal wives (the Ashtabharya)
| # | Queen | Father / origin | How she married Krishna |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rukmini | Princess of Vidarbha | Wrote to Krishna to save her from marrying Shishupala; he carried her away from her swayamvara |
| 2 | Satyabhama | Daughter of Satrajit | Given in marriage after Krishna cleared his name over the Syamantaka jewel |
| 3 | Jambavati | Daughter of Jambavan, the bear king | Married after Krishna won the Syamantaka jewel from Jambavan |
| 4 | Kalindi | Daughter of Surya, the Sun | Did penance by the Yamuna to win Krishna as her husband |
| 5 | Mitravinda | Princess of Avanti, Krishna’s cousin | Chose Krishna at her swayamvara against her brothers’ wishes |
| 6 | Nagnajiti (Satya) | Princess of Kosala | Won when Krishna tamed seven fierce bulls at once |
| 7 | Bhadra | Princess of Kekaya, his cousin | Given in marriage by her brothers |
| 8 | Lakshmana | Princess of Madra | Won at her swayamvara by piercing a fish target (matsya-yantra) |
The lists in the Bhagavata Purana (10th canto) and Vishnu Purana agree on these eight, with small differences in names.
Rukmini: the first queen
The best-loved of these stories is Rukmini’s. Her brother Rukmi had arranged her marriage to Shishupala, but Rukmini had given her heart to Krishna. She sent a Brahmin with a letter, the first love letter in Indian literature, asking Krishna to come for her. On the day of the wedding, as she came out of the temple of the goddess, Krishna lifted her into his chariot and carried her to Dwarka. Rukmini is worshipped as an incarnation of Lakshmi, and as Rukmini Devi beside Vithoba at Pandharpur.
The 16,100: a story of dignity
The demon king Narakasura of Pragjyotisha had captured and imprisoned 16,100 princesses and women from across the land. Krishna, with Satyabhama at his side, defeated and killed Narakasura (remembered on Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali) and set them free.
But the freed women could not go home; society of that time would not accept women who had been held captive. So Krishna married all of them, giving them the status of queens, homes in Dwarka and an honoured place in society. The tradition teaches this as an act of protection and respect, not of desire. With the eight principal queens, that makes 16,108.
Was Radha Krishna’s wife?
In most traditions, no. Radha is Krishna’s beloved from his childhood in Vrindavan, and their love, never bound by marriage, is the highest symbol of the soul’s selfless love for God. That is why devotees say “Radhe Radhe” and worship Radha-Krishna together, while Rukmini and Satyabhama stand beside Krishna as Dwarkadhish, the king of Dwarka. A few texts, such as parts of the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, describe a marriage of Radha and Krishna, but she is not one of the Ashtabharya.
Krishna’s children
Each of the eight queens is said to have had ten sons. The best known is Pradyumna, son of Rukmini, himself regarded as an incarnation of Kamadeva, and Pradyumna’s son Aniruddha, whose marriage to the asura princess Usha is another famous tale. Samba, son of Jambavati, appears in the story of the Yadavas’ end.
Read more about Krishna
His life from Gokul to Kurukshetra, his names and his temples are on our Lord Krishna page, and his best-loved aarti is Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki.
Sources: Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10 (chapters 52–59, 61, 90); Vishnu Purana, Book 5; Harivamsa. Image: chromolithograph, Wellcome Collection, CC BY 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
How many wives did Krishna have?
Tradition counts 16,108. Krishna had eight principal queens, the Ashtabharya, and he married 16,100 women whom he freed from the demon Narakasura's captivity, so that they would have dignity and a home when society would not accept them.
What are the names of Krishna's eight wives?
Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Nagnajiti (also called Satya), Bhadra and Lakshmana. Rukmini is the chief queen, worshipped as a form of Lakshmi.
Was Radha Krishna's wife?
In most traditions, no. Radha is Krishna's beloved from his childhood in Vrindavan, and their love is the symbol of the soul's pure devotion to God. She is not one of his wedded queens in the Bhagavata Purana. A few traditions, such as some readings of the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, describe a marriage, but Radha is worshipped above all as his eternal companion.
Who was Krishna's first wife?
Rukmini, princess of Vidarbha, is regarded as his first and chief queen. She wrote to Krishna asking him to save her from an arranged marriage to Shishupala, and he carried her away from her own swayamvara.