ROHIṆĪ I The mother of all the cows. The following is a story about the origin of Rohiṇī, given in Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇya Kāṇḍa, Sarga 14. Prajāpati Kaśyapa married Surabhi the seventh daughter of Dakṣa. Two daughters Rohiṇī and Gandharvī, were born to Surabhi. In later years cows and oxen were born in the world from Rohiṇī and horses from Gandharvī. In the
[Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 66] , it is mentioned that two daughters Vimalā and Analā were born to Rohiṇī and that from these two, in later years cattle were born.
ROHIṆĪ II 1)
General information. One of the wives of Candra (Moon). The twentyseven stars are the wives of Candra. Of these twentyseven wives, Rohiṇī was loved most by Candra. (See under Candra).
2)
Rohiṇī and Daśaratha. (See under Daśaratha, Para 10).
ROHIṆĪ III The mother of Balabhadrarāma.
1)
General information. Vasudeva had two wives Devakī and Rohiṇī. Śrī Kṛṣṇa was born from Devakī and Balabhadrarāma from Rohiṇī.
2)
Previous Birth of Rohiṇī. Vasudeva was the rebirth of Prajāpati Kaśyapa. When Kaśyapa took birth as Vasudeva, his two wives Aditi and Surasā took birth as Devakī and Rohiṇī respectively. (They took birth thus, because of the curse of Varuṇa. For details of the curse see under Kaśyapa, para 6).
3)
The birth of Balabhadra. The seventh child of Devakī was placed in the womb of Rohiṇī and Balabhadrarāma was born. (For this story see under Kṛṣṇa, para 6, Kaṁsa, para 6 and Ṣaḍarbhaka).
4)
Death. As soon as a messenger named Dāruka brought the news that the entire race of the Yādavas had perished in Dvārakā, “because of grief, Vasudeva, Devakī and Rohiṇī forsook their bodies.”
[Bhāgavata, Skandha 11] .
ROHIṆĪ IV Niśā the third wife of the Agni (fire) called Manu or Bhānu gave birth to a daughter named Rohiṇī. Because she had done some misdeeds, she became the wife of Hiraṇyakaśipu.
[M.B. Vana Parva, Chapter 221] .
ROHIṆĪ V The mother of Utatthya, a famous hermit. (For details see under Satyatapas).