Vallabhacharya (Mahaprabhuji) refers to Yamunaji as “Krishna Turya Priyam” in the third verse of the Shree Yamunashtakam. Most of us assume that “Krishna Turya Priyam” means ‘Krishna’s fourth wife – Kalindi.’ We may be also be aware of the names and details of Krishna’s Ashta Bharya and think that there is nothing beyond that. But the details are very interesting indeed. Let’s start from what we know.
Krishna’s Ashtabharya
Krishna has eight principal queens and 16,108 junior wives. They are:
| Name of queen | Details |
| Rukmini | Avatar of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, daughter of King Bhishmaka. |
| Satyabhama | Avatar of Bhudevi, mother Earth, daughter of Satrajit who owns the Syamantaka jewel. She helped Krishna fight Narakasura |
| Jambavati | Daughter of Jambavan, king of bears who fights with Krishna over the Syamantaka jewel. |
| Kalindi | Goddess of river Yamuna, daughter of Lord Surya, worshipped independently |
| Mitravinda | Daughter of King Jayasena who ruled over Avanti |
| Nagnajiti | Daughter of King Nagnajita who ruled over Kosala |
| Bhadra | Daughter of King Drishtaketu, sister of Kunti, cousin sister of Vasudev(Krishna’s father) |
| Lakshmana | Daughter of King Brihatsena, King of Madra |
- Yes, some do say that Jambavati is actually Rohini. But others say Rohini is the head of Krishna’s 16,108 junior wives.
Kalindi marries Krishna
We may even be familiar with Kalindi’s story: It so happens that one fine day, Krishna decides to visit his cousins, the Pandavas who live in Indraprastha. Arjuna and Krishna go hunting one day. And they decide to take a break by the waters of the Kalindi to refresh themselves.
After a while, Arjuna spots a lovely damsel living by the riverside. Arjuna is curious so he decides to talk to her. He comes to know that she is Kalindi, the daughter of Surya, and is performing austerities in the Khandav forest because she wants to marry Krishna. Arjuna informs Krishna about it. And Krishna takes her to Dwarka and marries her – for He knows that Kalindi too contains His essence. Krishna and Kalindi have 10 sons – Shruta, Kavi, Vrsa, Vira, Subahu, Bhadra, Santi, Darsa, Purnamasa and Somaka.
Krishna’s Turya Priyam
But “Krishna Turya Priyam” actually means ‘The fourth form who is Krishna’s favourite.’ We know that Yamunaji is Krishna’s Bhakti swaroop, a part of Krishna’s divine essence. But Vallabhacharya addresses her as the fourth form of Krishna who is very dear to Him. Why?
Vallabhacharya explains this beautifully. He says, “This is the first thing that we need to keep in mind is that Yamunaji has three swaroops – adhidaivik, adhyatmik and adhibhautik. We call Krishna’s intangible adhidaivik/supernatural Prem Rasa as Swaminiji, the intangible adhyatmik/emotional swaroop as Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani and the adhibhautik/tangible swaroop as Kalindi.
So when we refer to Yamunaji as Krishna Turya Priyam – fourth and most favourite form – in the Shree Yamunashtakam, we are actually referring to the intangible adhyatmik/emotional swaroop of Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani, the 16-year-old woman who symbolises Krishna’s Prem Rasa.”
Why does Vallabhacharya consider Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani as the fourth form who is dearest to Krishna?
Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani: Krishna’s Turya Priya form
Vallabhacharya gives a splendid explanation of this and says, “It all begins when Krishna decides to manifest on the earth from Goloka. So He transforms His entire nirguna mandal of Goloka, makes it saguna (gives them tangible forms) and brings all the entities along with Him to earth. And Radha, Chandravali, RadhaSahacharji, Yamunaji, Lalitha, Vishakha, Indulekha etc. are all a part of this mandal.
Radha: Krishna’s first form
The first saguna form that Krishna creates on the earth is Radha, His Ananda swaroop. For it is at her insistence that He creates the entire saguna mandal on earth. Since Radha is unique and Krishna’s Ananda swaroop no one accompanies her when she manifests on the earth.
Chandravali: Krishna’s second form
Krishna then calls the Shrutis, the sound of the Vedas and asks them to transform themselves into gopis. So Chandravali, Krishna’s Shrutiroopa Swaminiji and other gopis who are good listeners accompany her.
RadhaSaharcharji: Krishna’s third form
Now Krishna requests the maharishis of Dandakaranya to be reborn as Kumarikas from the Agni kund. So Radhasahacharji, Krishna’s AgniKumarika gopi and the other gopis who were rishis accompany her.
Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani: Krishna’s fourth form
But Krishna knows He can rely on Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani alone to take care of all the remaining creatures that He manifests on the earth.
Why does Krishna follow this order?
Vallabhacharya says, “We all will merge into Krishna and be a part of His divine realm Goloka forever at the end of all His leelas. So Krishna first creates intangible moral lifelines like Ananda, the Vedas and the rishis and Yamunaji – in descending order – to help us cope with His leelas. He knows that we are embroiled in the illusions of Maya and evolve spiritually at our own pace.
Krishna knows that we will first need Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani’s bhakti the most. Only then can we detach ourselves from Maya, try to understand the true purpose of life and learn to live our lives with detachment, like the rishis.
And even if we do live through our lives as rishis, we will need spiritual anchors to rely on every now and then. So Krishna creates the Vedas and helps us elevate ourselves to a higher realm.
But Krishna knows that only a few rare manavas may even attempt to evolve to a higher plane of consciousness. So He creates the Shrutis for such people.
And only the rarest of rare amongst us may reach the highest plane of consciousness and connect to His divine aspects like Ananda. And Krishna gives such manavas a special place in Goloka.
Krishna’s Maha Raas
That is why Krishna engages in the MahaRaas along the banks of the Yamuna, with Radha, the other gopis and kumarikas alone. All of them experience Ananda because there is a union of all His divine elements during the MahaRaas.
Krishna’s Turya Priyam: Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani
But Krishna reveres Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani the most because She forgoes the Ananda of the Raas Leela too and chooses to watch it from a distance. She does this for Krishna because She knows that Krishna relies on her alone to take care of His divine clothes and keep a vigilant eye over Vrindavan during the MahaRaas.
That is not all. Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani knows that Krishna loves his bhaktas as much as She loves them. And unlike Krishna’s first three forms, Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani does not confine her love for Krishna to herself.
She loves all of us unconditionally. She cleanses all our sins in her waters unquestioningly. We don’t even need to bathe in her waters. It is enough if we just sip on her waters. She does what she has to. Quietly. Willingly. For all of us. She then fills our hearts with bhakti, holds our hand firmly in hers and connects us to Krishna Himself.
Krishna knows that Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani will take good care of us. And as long as She is with us, it is fine if we don’t understand the Shrutis or the Vedas. And there is no need for us to live like hermits either. It is fine if we live through our lives as householders. Yes, it is perfectly fine if we are as naïve as the gopas and gopis and ignorant about divine concepts too. And that is why Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani is Krishna’s fourth but dearest form.”
So, it is enough if we have an abundance of faith in Shyam Sundar Yamuna Maharani alone. She will do what She has to. For all of us. As usual. Always.
3rd and 4th Photos given by: Shri Krishna Akhileshji.
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