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Story of Pradyumna – Son of Sri Krishna and Rukmini

Pradyumna was the son of Sri Krishna and Rukmini. His story is mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavad Purana, Mahabharata and in many other Puranas. As per Srimad Bhagavad Purana he was an incarnation of Kama, the Hindu God of Love.

As per Mahabharata, he was a partial incarnation of Sanat Kumara, the mind born son of Brahma. Thus Pradyumna is one of the deities worshipped in the Pancharatra system.

When Kamdev was turned into ashes by the third eye of Shiva, Rati, wife of Kamdev, was given the boon that her husband will be reborn again in Treta Yuga and they both will reunite.



In the Treta Yuga, Rukmini wanted a child. Sri Krishna took the blessings of Nara Narayana and went to the Himalayas and prayed to Shiva for a child. Thus Pradyumna was born.

An Asura named Shambara was told that he will be killed by the son of Sri Krishna and Rukmini. To avoid this prophecy, the Asura stole the six day old Pradyumna and threw him into the ocean. The child was swallowed by a fish.

The fish was later caught and sold to Ausra Shambara. His young wife Mayadevi discovered the child and allowed the boy to stay in the palace.

Sage Narada then informed Mayadevi that she was a manifestation of Rati and the child was Kamdev. When Pradyumna grew up, he fell in love with Mayadevi.

Pradyumna then killed Shambara and married Mayadevi and returned to Dwarka and resided with his parents.

Pradyumna died along with other Yadavas just before Sri Krishna departed from Earth.