Why Krishna Did Not Marry Radha?
On September 04, 2025The love story of Radha and Krishna is known to most Hindus. It has been immortalized in various forms of art., too. Often held up as an example of eternal and all-consuming love, it is also a doomed love. For, this love story ends not in union, but separation. It is well-known that Krishna took Rukmini as his wife and not Radha. But why? Let us find out!
Krishna was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who took different avatars to rid the world of evil forces and restore Dharma. As Vishnu’s 8th avatar, Krishna was born to slay the evil king, Kamsa, who was ironically his maternal uncle. Krishna’s mother was Kamsa’s sister, Devaki, who was the wife of Vasudeva. But, due to the peculiar circumstances of his birth, he was raised by Nanda and Yashoda.
Krishna is a very popular deity in Hinduism. A mischievous child known for his pranks, he grew up into a winsome youth who could enchant human beings and animals alike by playing his flute. It is said that the gopis (cowherd maidens) would rush to his side, leaving their husbands and household chores on hearing him play the flute. He also killed many demons who were sent by his uncle to kill him. Krishna also protected the people of Vrindavan from many dangers, like the poisonous serpent, Kaliya, and the wrath of Lord Indra.
Krishna and Radha
Krishna was the beloved of all the gopis in Vrindavan. He also had many wives. But it was Radha who had a very special place in his heart. Devotees believe that she accompanied Krishna whenever he incarnated on earth. Every year, close to Janmashtami, Krishna’s birthday, people also celebrate the birthday of Radha as Radhashtami.
Why Didn’t Krishna Marry Radha?
Despite their intense and passionate love, Radha and Krishna didn’t tie the knot. They did not feel the need to marry, due to certain reasons.
Let us find out what these reasons are.
They had nothing to prove
Radha and Krishna did not feel that they had something to prove to the world by getting married. The norms other people lived by did not apply to them, as theirs was a divine love beyond earthly bonds, sanctions, conventions, and labels.
Krishna showered love and kindness on everyone. Radha was not meant to be his wife, and their bond was based on pure love that was free of expectations.
Radha and Rukmini Were the Same
Goddess Lakshmi (Vishnu’s consort) and Rukmini lived in the same Yuga. The latter is a form of Shakti, born in the palace of Bhishmaka, the king of Vidharba.
When the demoness Putana was kidnapping and killing children born around the same time as Krishna, she also kidnapped Rukmini, unaware that she was an avatar of Goddess Lakshmi.
However, the demoness found her too heavy and abandoned her in a place called Barsana. Vrishabhanu, a childless villager, found Rukmini and took her with him.
One day, King Vidharbha was searching for Rukmini and came across Radha carrying a lotus and having marks of a conch shell on her palms. He realized that Radha was Rukmini and sent her to Vidharabha. She was again given her original name, Rukmini, and raised like a princess. She eventually fell in love with Krishna and married him.
Radha’s Marriage to Ayan
Radha was actually married to a man called Ayan, which was another reason why she could not marry Krishna. Ayan was a devotee of Vishnu. Pleased by his devotion, Vishnu granted him a boon that he would marry Lakshmi in a future incarnation.
Goddess Lakshmi incarnated in many forms - Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavanti, and finally Radha.
Though Radha and Krishna loved each other passionately, they also knew that Lakshmi/Radha had been born to fulfill Ayan’s wish. Hence, she had to marry Ayan.
Ayan was born as a transgender. Despite becoming his wife, Radha continued to love Krishna.
As Ayan could not consummate the marriage, being a transgender, he often doubted Radha's fidelity. One day, seeing Radha going to the jungle for her tryst with Krishna, he followed her.
Krishna realized what Ayan was upto, and decided to save Radha from Ayan’s wrath. He took the form of Goddess Kali, so Ayan only saw Radha worshipping Kali, and went away, relieved.
In many parts of India, the Krishnakali form is still worshipped by devotees. Radha was the sole avatar of Lakshmi who did not marry Krishna. The others - Rukmini, Satyabhama, and Jambavanti – became his wives.
Krishna Leaves Vrindavan
Krishna once went to Yashoda and confessed that he wanted to marry Radha. However, Yashodha did not approve. She told him that Radha was five years older than Krishna and was already engaged to somebody else.
But Krishna remained stubborn. So, Nanda took him to see Guru Gargacharya and Sandipani. Both told him that he was born to fulfil a divine purpose.
However, Krishna replied that he did not want to defend Dharma or save the earth.
Finally, Guru Gargacharya had to reveal Krishna’s true form given by Devarishi Narada.
A shaken Krishna went to the Govardhan mountain, feeling sad and disconsolate. But after a while, he gained inner peace and underwent an inner transformation.
He also realized that his time in Vrindavan was over and that he should leave. Before leaving, he performed a Raas-leela for everyone.
During the Raas Leela, he saw Radha dancing with great joy, impervious to everything that was going on around her. Krishna then gave his flute to Radha, saying that he played the flute only for her.
Following this, Krishna left Vrindavan. He never played the flute again during his lifetime and never returned to Vrindavan. This offers another explanation for Krishna not marrying Radha.
Radha is Not Real
Some feel that Radha is just a figment of the imagination. She is not mentioned in the ancient scriptures, like Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata, or Harivansham. All these were written around the same time and give a comprehensive account of Krishna’s life.
When Acharaya Nimbark and poet Jayadeva wrote about her, she made an appearance in the medieval scriptures. Apart from this, there is no mention of Radha.
Hence, Krishna did not marry Radha because she was not a real person.
Conclusion
Whether Radha was real or imagined, she is an important figure in the life and mythology of Lord Krishna. Their unique bond offers a template for divine and eternal love. It is also believed that Radha’s love for Krishna is a metaphor for the intense and ardent devotion that one feels for the divine.
Krishna and Radha
Krishna was the beloved of all the gopis in Vrindavan. He also had many wives. But it was Radha who had a very special place in his heart. Devotees believe that she accompanied Krishna whenever he incarnated on earth. Every year, close to Janmashtami, Krishna’s birthday, people also celebrate the birthday of Radha as Radhashtami.
Why Didn’t Krishna Marry Radha?
Despite their intense and passionate love, Radha and Krishna didn’t tie the knot. They did not feel the need to marry, due to certain reasons.
Let us find out what these reasons are.
They had nothing to prove
Radha and Krishna did not feel that they had something to prove to the world by getting married. The norms other people lived by did not apply to them, as theirs was a divine love beyond earthly bonds, sanctions, conventions, and labels.
Krishna showered love and kindness on everyone. Radha was not meant to be his wife, and their bond was based on pure love that was free of expectations.
Radha and Rukmini Were the Same
Goddess Lakshmi (Vishnu’s consort) and Rukmini lived in the same Yuga. The latter is a form of Shakti, born in the palace of Bhishmaka, the king of Vidharba.
When the demoness Putana was kidnapping and killing children born around the same time as Krishna, she also kidnapped Rukmini, unaware that she was an avatar of Goddess Lakshmi.
However, the demoness found her too heavy and abandoned her in a place called Barsana. Vrishabhanu, a childless villager, found Rukmini and took her with him.
One day, King Vidharbha was searching for Rukmini and came across Radha carrying a lotus and having marks of a conch shell on her palms. He realized that Radha was Rukmini and sent her to Vidharabha. She was again given her original name, Rukmini, and raised like a princess. She eventually fell in love with Krishna and married him.
Radha’s Marriage to Ayan
Radha was actually married to a man called Ayan, which was another reason why she could not marry Krishna. Ayan was a devotee of Vishnu. Pleased by his devotion, Vishnu granted him a boon that he would marry Lakshmi in a future incarnation.
Goddess Lakshmi incarnated in many forms - Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavanti, and finally Radha.
Though Radha and Krishna loved each other passionately, they also knew that Lakshmi/Radha had been born to fulfill Ayan’s wish. Hence, she had to marry Ayan.
Ayan was born as a transgender. Despite becoming his wife, Radha continued to love Krishna.
As Ayan could not consummate the marriage, being a transgender, he often doubted Radha's fidelity. One day, seeing Radha going to the jungle for her tryst with Krishna, he followed her.
Krishna realized what Ayan was upto, and decided to save Radha from Ayan’s wrath. He took the form of Goddess Kali, so Ayan only saw Radha worshipping Kali, and went away, relieved.
In many parts of India, the Krishnakali form is still worshipped by devotees. Radha was the sole avatar of Lakshmi who did not marry Krishna. The others - Rukmini, Satyabhama, and Jambavanti – became his wives.
Krishna Leaves Vrindavan
Krishna once went to Yashoda and confessed that he wanted to marry Radha. However, Yashodha did not approve. She told him that Radha was five years older than Krishna and was already engaged to somebody else.
But Krishna remained stubborn. So, Nanda took him to see Guru Gargacharya and Sandipani. Both told him that he was born to fulfil a divine purpose.
However, Krishna replied that he did not want to defend Dharma or save the earth.
Finally, Guru Gargacharya had to reveal Krishna’s true form given by Devarishi Narada.
A shaken Krishna went to the Govardhan mountain, feeling sad and disconsolate. But after a while, he gained inner peace and underwent an inner transformation.
He also realized that his time in Vrindavan was over and that he should leave. Before leaving, he performed a Raas-leela for everyone.
During the Raas Leela, he saw Radha dancing with great joy, impervious to everything that was going on around her. Krishna then gave his flute to Radha, saying that he played the flute only for her.
Following this, Krishna left Vrindavan. He never played the flute again during his lifetime and never returned to Vrindavan. This offers another explanation for Krishna not marrying Radha.
Radha is Not Real
Some feel that Radha is just a figment of the imagination. She is not mentioned in the ancient scriptures, like Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata, or Harivansham. All these were written around the same time and give a comprehensive account of Krishna’s life.
When Acharaya Nimbark and poet Jayadeva wrote about her, she made an appearance in the medieval scriptures. Apart from this, there is no mention of Radha.
Hence, Krishna did not marry Radha because she was not a real person.
Conclusion
Whether Radha was real or imagined, she is an important figure in the life and mythology of Lord Krishna. Their unique bond offers a template for divine and eternal love. It is also believed that Radha’s love for Krishna is a metaphor for the intense and ardent devotion that one feels for the divine.