Meerabai: Icons of Bharatavarsha

Introduction

There are several means to attain God. However, most of them are difficult as worldly desires (Samsara) lure everyone away from their chosen means. Every once in a while, an Icon emerges who not only realizes God but also shows the way to all. One such Icon is Meerabai, who attained God by means of sheer devotion and love.

Meera or Meerabai was a 16th-century devotee of Lord Krishna who propounded Bhakthi and love (Premabhakthi) as means of worship. She was one of the significant saints of the Vaishnava bhakti movement. Hundreds of her bhajans have been translated and published worldwide. Her Bhajans in the form of passionate praise of Lord Krishna explained her unconditional love to the Lord urging everyone to keep Lord Krishna as the goal of our lives.

Birth and early life

Meerabai was born in a Rajput royal family in Rajasthan as the grandchild of Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur city. From a young age, she developed deep rooted affection towards Lord Krishna. When she was a child, she spotted a wedding procession and asked her mother who will be her own bridegroom. Her mother smiled, pointed to the idol of Lord Krishna and said that would be Lord Krishna. From then on, her desire to be with Krishna grew intensely and she started believing that Lord Krishna indeed would be her husband.

Trials

As fate would have it, due to certain circumstances, she was married to Rana Kumbha, Prince of Chittor. Though she served her husband dutifully, she spent most of her time singing to her beloved Krishna. Her in-laws did not approve of this and started spreading false rumors about her. But Meerabai remained unaffected by this. She led a celibate life and patiently bore endured all her troubles. Soon her husband died and she was pressurized to commit Sati (suicide by getting into husband’s funeral pyre). She remained defiant and said that she would not do this as her real husband was Sri Krishna.

“sati na hosyan girdhar gansyan mhara man moho ghananami“,

“I will not commit sati. I will sing the songs of Girdhar Krishna, my heart is enamored of Hari.”

Her in-laws made several attempts on her life. However with the divine grace of Lord Krishna she came out unscathed from all of them. There was nothing that could disturb her inner connection to her God. Soon, she was surrounded by learned saints  attracted by her devotion the Lord. On one occasion, a respected Guru refused to speak to her because she was a woman. To which Meerabai replied that there was only one real man in Brindavan, Sri Krishna while everyone else was a woman (Gopis). Realizing his mistake, the Guru promptly sought forgiveness for his actions. Her wish to unite with her Lord came shortly after. In 1557, while singing at the Dwaraka temple, Lord Krishna is said to have manifested in front of her. She merged with the object of her affection, Lord Krishna forever.

Legacy

Several devotees throughout the country sing Meerabai’s compositions with religious fervor even today. This includes the song, “Paayo paayoji maine Ram Ratan dhan paayo“ (“I have been given the richness of Lord Ram’s blessing”). Meerabai’s poems are metric verses in Rajasthani mixed with the local dialect Vraja Bhasha. The temple in Chittorgarh fort is dedicated to Meerabai’s memory. Every year on Sharad Purnima day, Meerabai’s birth anniversary is celebrated for 3 days. Many famous musicians and singers get together to sing bhajans during this time. The Meera Mahal Museum in Merta, Rajasthan is dedicated to Meerabai which showcases sculptures, paintings and displays. Prem Ambodh Pothi, a text attributed to Guru Gobind Singh includes poetry of Meerabai and is considered important in Sikhism. This is another example of the all-inclusiveness of Sanatana Dharma.

The life of Meerabai stands testimony to the resilience of womankind and the respect the society offered to such great saints irrespective of their gender. Though there were people who attempted to persecute her, there were several who revered her, celebrated with her and raised her to Godly status. Among the brave, kind and wise women of Bharatavarsha, Meerabai stands tall with her devotion and steadfast attachment to the supreme.

Meerabai’s overflowing love, single minded devotion and renunciation of worldly pleasures made her realize God which is  extremely difficult even to Yogis. All through her life, Meerabai spoke with Him, laughed with Him, ate with Him and lived with Him. Along with Andal from South India, Meerabai is the true embodiment of devotional love (Premabhakthi) in this world.

Famous Quotes on Meerabai

I am very familiar with many bhajans of Mirabai. In my Sabarmati Ashram these bhajans are sung repeatedly and with love and devotion to Her. Such rare joy is experienced from her bhajans.  –  Mahatma Gandhi 

Love is something absolutely unselfish, that which has no thought beyond the glorification and adoration of the object upon which our affections are bestowed… It is said of a Hindu saint (Mirabai) that when she was married, she said to her husband, the king, that she was already married. To whom?” asked the king. To God,” was the reply. – Swami Vivekananda