Rahi (goddess)

Rahi
Painting of Radha by Raja Ravi Verma
Other namesRahimai
Devanagariराही
Sanskrit transliterationRāhi
Venerated inWarkari tradition
AffiliationRadha
AbodePandharpur
GenderFemale
RegionMaharashtra, India
TempleVithoba Temple
ConsortVithoba

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.

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

Rahi (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

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
  4. ^ "The Gazetteers Department - Pandharpur". 2010-03-30. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.