Rakhumai

Rakhumai is the name by which the goddess Rukmini, chief consort of Krishna/Vithoba, is worshipped in the Varkari tradition of Maharashtra.

Background

At Pandharpur — the central pilgrimage site of the Varkari tradition — Rukmini is venerated alongside Vithoba (a regional form of Krishna) under the name Rakhumai (“Mother Rukmini”). She is regarded as an incarnation of Lakshmi and is revered in Varkari, Haridasa, and Sri Vaishnava traditions. Her association with Vithoba’s shrine makes her a central presence of the Wari pilgrimage to Pandharpur.

Spiritual Contribution

Devotees sing of Rakhumai’s single-minded love for the divine (as told in the Tulabharam episode and the Rukmini-Krishna narratives of the Bhagavata Purana). In Maharashtra she is worshipped as the divine consort who embodies devotion (bhakti) itself, and together with Vithoba she receives the daily ritual worship and the hymns of the Varkari saints.

Legacy and Impact

Rakhumai is honored at Pandharpur’s Vithoba temple and at the Rukmini temple in Dwarka; her festival is Rukmini Ashtami. She represents the divine feminine of the Varkari tradition, alongside the human women saints such as Janabai, Muktabai, and Bahinabai.

Verification Notes

• Rakhumai is the Maharashtrian form of the goddess Rukmini, consort of Vithoba (per Wikipedia)
• Worshipped at Pandharpur with Vithoba; venerated in Varkari tradition
• Festival: Rukmini Ashtami