Ontvoering van Rukmini door Krishna

The abduction and forced ‘marriage’ of women is a wellknown motif in Sanskrit literature. A famous example is the abduction of Rukmini by the god Krishna. The story reflects a cultural milieu, particularly of the warrior caste, in which ideals of masculinity were inextricably linked to expressions of violence and domination. In the case of Krishna and Rukmini, the violence is tempered by a love story.