While much of their marriage including the timing is unknown, it is presumed from the fact that she was a woman belonging to the Miyoshi clan in Echigo, that Eshinni married Shinran in order to take care of his daily life after he was banished to Echigo.
時期などを不明な点が多いが、恵信尼は越後三善氏の娘であるため、親鸞が越後配流になった際に身の回りの世話をするために結婚したと推定される。