Rahi (IAST: Rāhi), also called Rahimai, is a regional form of the Hindu goddess Radha in the Indian state of Maharashtra. She is associated with Vithoba (Vitthal), the local form of Krishna.
Rahi | |
---|---|
Other names | Rahimai |
Devanagari | राही |
Sanskrit transliteration | Rāhi |
Venerated in | Warkari tradition |
Affiliation | Radha |
Abode | Pandharpur |
Gender | Female |
Region | Maharashtra, India |
Temple | Vithoba Temple |
Consort | Vithoba |
According to local legends, Rahi is the wife of Vithoba.[1] Indian sociologist G. S. Ghurye states that the regional form "Rahi" is derived from "Radhika", another name of Radha.[2]
Worship
editRahi (Radha) is worshipped in the Vithoba Temple complex, Pandharpur.[3] Her shrine, along with that of another consort of Krishna, Satyabhama, is close to the south of the temple of his chief consort, Rakhumai.[4][5][6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Pande, Dr Suruchi (2008). "Vithoba of Pandharpur" (PDF). Prabuddha Bharat. 113: 447. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2008.
Rahi is Radha. In the stories and legends of Maharashtra, Rahi is the wife of Vitthala.
- ^ Pillai, S. Devdasa (1997). Indian Sociology Through Ghurye, a Dictionary. India: Popular Prakashan. p. 367. ISBN 81-7154-807-5.
The other two consorts of Vithoba - Satyabhama and Rahi, (the latter derived from Radha or Radhika) are also deified in the temple
- ^ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
- ^ "The Gazetteers Department - Pandharpur". 2010-03-30. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ Lokmat (2021-07-17). "Ashadhi Ekadashi 2021 : समस्त देवतांपैकी एकमेव पांडुरंगाची मूर्तीच नि:शस्त्र का? हे आहे कारण..." Lokmat (in Marathi). Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ Shima, Iwao (1988-05-01). "The Vithobā faith of Mahārāsastra: The Vithobā Temple of Pandharpūr and its mythological structure". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 15 (2–3). doi:10.18874/jjrs.15.2-3.1988.183-197. ISSN 0304-1042.