Lord Krishna's Family Tree: His Parents, Brother, Wives & Children
Ever wondered who Krishna's real parents were? Or whether he had a wife and kids?
Krishna's family tree is one of the most fascinating (and confusing) stories in Hindu mythology. He was born to one set of parents but raised by another. He had a brother who was also divine. And depending on which story you read, he had one wife... or eight... or 16,008.
Let's break it down in a way that actually makes sense.
The Quick Answer: Krishna's Immediate Family
Here's the simple version before we dive deep:
- Birth Parents: Devaki (mother) and Vasudeva (father)
- Foster Parents: Yashoda (mother) and Nanda (father)
- Brother: Balarama (also called Balaram)
- Primary Wife: Rukmini
- Divine Consort: Radha
- Son: Pradyumna (with Rukmini)
- Extended Family: The entire Yadava clan and the Pandavas
Now let's talk about why this gets so complicated.
Why Krishna Had Two Sets of Parents
Birth Parents: Devaki and Vasudeva
Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in a prison cell. Yes, really.
Here's what happened:
Devaki's brother, King Kamsa, heard a prophecy that Devaki's eighth child would kill him. So he locked up Devaki and Vasudeva and killed each of their babies as they were born.
Brutal, right?
When Krishna was born (as the eighth child), his father Vasudeva smuggled him out of the prison in the middle of the night. He crossed the Yamuna River during a storm and brought baby Krishna to the village of Gokul.
Foster Parents: Yashoda and Nanda
Yashoda and Nanda were simple cowherds living in Gokul. They raised Krishna as their own son, not knowing he was divine.
This is the Krishna most of us grew up with – the mischievous butter thief who played with the gopis (village girls), lifted Govardhan hill, and danced in the meadows of Vrindavan.
All those cute stories about baby Krishna? Those happened with Yashoda and Nanda.
Fun fact: Yashoda literally means "giver of fame" – and boy, did she give fame to the most beloved deity in Hinduism.
Krishna's Brother: Balarama
Balarama (also called Balaram or Baldev) was Krishna's older brother and constant companion.
The interesting twist? Balarama was technically transferred from Devaki's womb to another woman's womb (Rohini) before birth. So they're brothers but had different birth mothers.
In the stories, Balarama is:
- Physically stronger than Krishna
- More hot-tempered
- A fierce protector
- Known for carrying a plow as his weapon
While Krishna used his mind and wit, Balarama used his strength. Together, they were unstoppable.
Krishna's Wives: The Complicated Part
Okay, this is where things get really confusing.
Radha: The Divine Love
Radha wasn't technically Krishna's wife, but she's often shown with him.
She represents divine, unconditional love. In many traditions, Radha and Krishna's love story symbolizes the soul's longing for the divine. It's spiritual, not just romantic.
In the village of Vrindavan, young Krishna and Radha had a deep, playful connection. But Krishna eventually left Vrindavan to fulfill his destiny, and they never married.
Yet Radha-Krishna are almost always worshipped together. That's how significant their bond is.
Rukmini: The Primary Wife
Rukmini was Krishna's first and primary wife.
She was a princess who wanted to marry Krishna, but her brother wanted her to marry someone else. So Krishna basically eloped with her – he showed up on her wedding day and they ran away together.
Classic Krishna move.
Rukmini and Krishna had several children together, including their famous son Pradyumna.
The Other Wives
Depending on which text you read, Krishna had:
- 8 principal wives (including Rukmini)
- 16,100 wives in some versions
Why so many?
The story goes that Krishna rescued 16,100 women who had been kidnapped by a demon. To restore their honor (because society wouldn't accept them back), he married all of them.
Whether you take this literally or as symbolic, the point is: Krishna protected those who had nowhere else to go.
Did Krishna Have Children?
Yes! Krishna had children.
Pradyumna: Krishna's Most Famous Son
Pradyumna was Krishna's son with Rukmini. He's described as incredibly handsome (inherited from both parents) and a skilled warrior.
Fun fact: In some texts, Pradyumna is considered a reincarnation of Kamadeva, the god of love.
Other Children
Krishna had multiple children with his various wives:
- Samba (son with Jambavati)
- Charudeshna (son with Rukmini)
- Several daughters (though they're mentioned less in the texts)
The exact number varies by tradition, but the Bhagavata Purana mentions Krishna having 80 children total.
Krishna's Extended Family: The Yadavas
Krishna belonged to the Yadava clan – a large extended family of his people.
Key relatives include:
- Ugrasena: Krishna's grandfather and the rightful king (before Kamsa usurped the throne)
- Akrura: Krishna's uncle
- Kunti: Krishna's aunt (Vasudeva's sister)
This last one is important because...
The Pandava Connection
Krishna was the Pandavas' cousin.
Kunti (Krishna's aunt) was the mother of the Pandavas – the heroes of the Mahabharata. So:
- Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva were all Krishna's cousins
- Krishna served as Arjuna's charioteer and guide in the Kurukshetra war
- The entire Bhagavad Gita is Krishna teaching Arjuna
This family connection explains why Krishna was so invested in helping the Pandavas reclaim their kingdom.
Krishna as Vishnu's Avatar
Here's where we zoom out a bit.
Krishna is considered the 8th avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, the preserver god in Hinduism.
Other famous Vishnu avatars include:
- Rama (the 7th avatar)
- Narasimha (the half-man, half-lion)
- Vamana (the dwarf)
So in a cosmic sense, Krishna's "family" includes all of Vishnu's avatars and Vishnu's wife, Lakshmi (who incarnated as Rukmini).
It's mythology inception.
Teaching Kids About Krishna's Family
If you're trying to explain Krishna's family to your kids, here's the simplified version:
"Krishna had two mommies and two daddies because his birth parents had to keep him safe. His foster parents Yashoda and Nanda raised him in a village where he had lots of fun adventures with his brother Balarama. When he grew up, he married Princess Rukmini and had a family. And he also had lots of cousins – including the Pandavas from the Mahabharata."
That covers the basics without overwhelming them.
Common Questions About Krishna's Family
Who were Krishna's real parents?
Devaki and Vasudeva were his biological parents, but Yashoda and Nanda raised him. Both sets are considered his "real" parents in different ways.
Did Krishna have a wife?
Yes. His primary wife was Rukmini. He's also associated with Radha, though she wasn't technically his wife.
How many children did Krishna have?
He had at least 80 children according to texts, with Pradyumna being the most famous.
Is Krishna related to Rama?
Yes – they're both incarnations of Vishnu, so they're connected at a divine level. But they lived in different eras (yugas).
Who was Krishna's favorite wife?
This depends on the tradition. Rukmini was his primary queen. Radha represents divine love. Different texts emphasize different relationships.
Why Krishna's Story Matters
Krishna's family tree isn't just about who's related to whom.
It's about:
- Finding love and safety even when you're born in difficult circumstances
- Loyalty to family and friends (like his devotion to the Pandavas)
- Protecting the vulnerable (like the 16,100 women he married to restore their honor)
- Balancing multiple roles – son, brother, husband, father, friend, king, and divine guide
These are lessons we still teach our kids today.
Share Krishna's Stories With Your Kids
Want to bring Krishna's stories to life for your children?
Our Baby Krishna mantra-singing plush toys help kids connect with Lord Krishna through play. Each toy sings traditional mantras and makes learning about Hindu culture fun and interactive.
Perfect for:
- Bedtime stories about Krishna's childhood
- Teaching kids about their heritage
- Creating cultural connections that last a lifetime