Rohini Devi

In Hinduism, Rohini (Sanskrit: रोहिणी, rohiṇī) is the first consort of Vasudeva. She is the foster mother of Balarama. She played a prominent role in the nurture of Krishna.

Rohini's husband, Vasudeva, was also married to another lady, Devaki. Immediately after the wedding of Devaki and Vasudeva, a divine voice from the sky (also called "Akashvani") predicted the death of Devaki's evil brother Kansa at the hand of "the eighth son of Devaki". Kansa then resolved upon killing all the progeny of Devaki immediately upon birth, and imprisoned the newly-wed couple without further ado. This left the distraught Rohini alone, albeit at liberty.

Kansa proceeded to personally kill each child born to the imprisoned couple immediately after its birth. In due course, Devaki found herself pregnant for a seventh time. Just before the seventh child was soon to take birth, Lord Vishnu ordered Goddess Mahamaya (beautiful goddess and the controller of Maya) to take birth from the womb of Rohini. Soon, Devaki gave birth to her seventh son, who was born white and fair. Facilitating God Sesha's descent or avatar. The seventh child was raised by step-mother, Rohini and was named Balarama, Shri Krishna's elder brother.

Krishna, who was the much-anticipated eighth child of Devaki, was moved immediately after birth to Gokula in secrecy. Rohini also then moved to the same region, to be able to keep an eye on her beloved stepson Krishna, who was raised in another family due to the threat of him being killed by Kansa. It is due to this proximity that the two brothers, Balarama and Krishna, grew up together.

After the passing of Vasudeva after the Yadu massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra and Madira.