In Hinduism, Bhishmaka (IAST:Bhīshmaka, Devanagari:भीष्मक) (or Bhishmak) was the king of Vidarbha. He was the father of Rukmini, who married the Hindu deity Krishna.
Bhishmaka was father of Rukmi, the elder brother of Rukmini. Krishna married Rukmini by abducting her from the Vidarbha kingdom, though Rukmi wanted to give her as bride to Chedi king Shishupala. He fought with Krishna, but was defeated. When Krishna was about to kill him, Rukmini fell at Krishna's feet and begged to spare her brother's life. Krishna generously agreed, but shaved Rukmi's head as a punishment.
Previous birth
Once there was a temple priest who was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. He used to do Pooja to Lord Shiva's feet (Shiva Padha Poojai) everyday. After finishing his Pooja and closing the temple premises, the priest brought prasadham (Food from the temple which is first offered to the lord) for a dog which waited outside the temple. As dogs symbolise loyalty, the dog used to accompany the priest till he reached home everyday and only ate food offered by this priest. The priest had great affection towards the dog as well.
On one new moon day (Ammavasai), after some delay in finishing his temple duties, the priest shut the temple premises and walked out fast to offer food for the dog. Because it was a dark night, the priest accidentally walked over the dogs face. Every dog's nature is to attack anyone who attacks it. The dog instantaneously bit the priest before it could realise that the person it bit was the priest whom the dog admired. Albeit getting bit by the dog, the priest offered the dog the prasadham. The dog, regretting its previous action, did not accept the food. The dog never ate anything after the incident and died in front of the same Shiva temple. The gods, seeing this great gesture of loyalty from the dog, awarded the post of the sun (Suryan) with the name Vivasawan. Many years later, the priest had also died in memory of the dog. In his next life, this brahmin priest took birth as a king at the land of Vidarbha with the name Bhishmaka. The position he attained in this birth is attributed to all the Shiva padha poojai (Worshipping lord Shiva's feet) that was performed by the brahmin priest.
Rukmini's bliss
King Bhishmaka had 4 sons and 1 daughter Rukmini. The sun god Vivasawan wished to see Bhishmaka (affection from his previous birth) and so disguised himself as a Rishi (Sage) and came down to the earth. King Bhishmaka upon seeing the rishi showed overwhelming affection towards him, again due to their relationship from the previous birth. Bhishmaka took the Rishi to his palace where Rukmini worshipped the rishi is a very devoted manner. The rishi then advised Rukmini to do Pooja for Lord Shiva's feet (Shiva Padha Poojai) for attaining god's blessings. Rukmini made garlands for the lord, offered sandhanam (sandalwood) and other auspicious materials to the god's feet. This pooja was most effective during the day Sevai (tuesday) and Ayilyam Natchatram (star). The prayers turned out to be so powerful that lord Shiva blessed Rukmini with the boon to marry the great Lord Krishna himself. The Shiva padha pooja takes place at most Shiva temples even today and is considered one of the most effective ways to offer prayers to lord Shiva. Many devotees throng to temples during the Shiva padha pooja to do their part in serving the lord.